Firehouse project gets new coordinator

Township Engineer George Fries to guide project.

By: Gwen Runkle
   WEST WINDSOR — After some Township Council members questioned his ability and experience to be project coordinator for the Princeton Junction Firehouse, Emergency Services Director Jim Yates has decided to step down from the position.
   "I asked to be removed," Mr. Yates said. "I felt that it was in the best interest of all who were concerned to have the position assigned to someone else."
   Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh formally appointed Township Engineer George Fries as his replacement Wednesday.
   "Ideally we would have liked to hire a construction manager for the project, but we did not budget for that," Mayor Hsueh said.
   "When it comes to construction, there has to be someone with the proper training, someone who understands the details of the engineering involved," he added.
   Construction of the Princeton Junction Firehouse is expected to start this week on the Censoni tract across from the Municipal Building on Clarksville Road. The $2.7 million project got off to a rough start, as the Township Council rejected a first round of bids, which ranged from $3.3 million to $3.6 million, in January.
   After a second round of bids was opened June 8, the council authorized an emergency appropriation of $300,000 for the construction because the project exceeded the $2.5 million that had been budgeted, which includes $500,000 from the Princeton Junction Volunteer Fire Co.
   Councilwomen Rae Roeder and Jackie Alberts, who voiced concern at last week’s council meeting that Mr. Yates did not have enough experience to properly monitor the project, said they were happy with the administration’s decision.
   "Now we have someone with the background and qualifications to do a good job and that makes a lot of sense," Councilwoman Roeder said.
   Ms. Roeder and Ms. Alberts said Mr. Fries’ expertise as an engineer and prior experience in managing construction will help to cut down on the influx of change orders that would increase the cost of the project.
   "Our goal is to make sure the project gets done on time, gets done right and under budget," Ms. Alberts said.
   Other council members also approved of Mr. Fries’ appointment.
   "A project coordinator has to be experienced in the engineering field and know the detail of each step in a building’s construction," said Council President Alison Miller.
   "It isn’t that we have lack of confidence in Mr. Yates as director of emergency services," she added. "He’s just never built a building or managed the building of one."
   Councilwoman Kristin Appelget added, "Jim was indispensable during the design of the building because of his point of view as the fire official, but now we are into the building’s construction."
   The change of project coordinators will not have any effect on the timing of the project, Mr. Fries said.
   Contractor J.G. Nascon of Eddystone, Pa. began site work for the firehouse July 30 and Scozzari Builders Inc. is expected to begin construction of the one-story 16,000-square-foot building this week, he said. The firehouse is expected to be complete July 2002.
   "I’m not being paid anything extra and I’m not having my duties cut in any other area, but I will re-arrange my schedule or assign things to my staff to do whatever is necessary to keep the project on line," Mr. Fries said.