ALLENTOWN — The school district has hit an unexpected snag in the middle school construction project.
Construction Manager Gabrielle Dujué, of Hill International in Marlton, told the Upper Freehold Regional Board of Education Sept. 17 that the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) has delayed its vote to extend Aqua New Jersey’s fresh water franchise to service the middle school site off Breza Road, which is causing project delays and could affect costs.
Dujué said that Allentown filed an objection to the extension with the BPU, stating that the school district wants to use Allentown’s water franchise instead. She said that since the BPU did not have a statement from the school district regarding the issue, it decided to delay the vote until its next meeting Oct. 1.
“Because there were no papers filed by the school district and the school district has such a great interest in the petition, the BPU would like to know what the school district’s position is,” she said. “You must file a written statement on whether you want to work with Aqua New Jersey or Allentown.”
Superintendent of Schools Richard Fitzpatrick said the project’s plumber has expressed tremendous concern over the delay in the BPU vote as it directly affects his timeline and costs. Fitzpatrick urged the board to immediately take a position on the issue and to notify the BPU of that position.
Dujué further explained that the plumber could not start designing the school’s water or sprinkler systems until the school district decides on and the BPU approves a water service provider. She said each provider’s system has different measurements and water pressure that would affect the school’s plumbing designs.
“If he is delayed in the project schedule, there may be cost and time impacts because this may push his schedule into the winter months,” she said.
Dujué also said the geothermal contractor needs to know the water service provider to begin designing the heating system.
Board of Education President Joseph Stampe said Aqua New Jersey sent the board a water service rate comparison for Aqua New Jersey and Allentown, which stated that Aqua New Jersey fees would be one-half the cost of Allentown fees. The board asked Dujué to independently verify the rates for the next board meeting Oct. 1.
Stampe also took issue with Allentown’s letter to the BPU stating that the board wanted to use Allentown’s services.
“We as a body never voted on it,” he said.
Stampe said the board had sent a letter to Allentown stating that it was considering both options for fresh water services and would continue to do so as long as it did not affect the school construction timeline.
“What we’re hearing today is that it is impacting the timeline,” Stampe said. “Aqua New Jersey can provide water now. It is a matter of cost and our timeline. We cannot afford to not have the school open in September 2010.”
Vice President Bill Borkowski said Allentown recently approved bonding for upgrades to its water system. The Borough Council passed an ordinance Sept. 9 to bond for $120,000 to pay for various water utility improvements. The ordinance states that the some of the improvements include the acquisition and installation of water lines, hydrants and temporary water lines for the new middle school.
Borkowski also said that Allentown is a nonprofit water plant, whereas Aqua New Jersey is for profit.
“I think Allentown is cheaper than Aqua New Jersey and Aqua’s rates are going up in Mercer County,” he said. “I think we should look at whether Allentown can provide us with water in a timely manner and the most cost efficient means of getting water.”
Borkowski asked the board to send Allentown notice of when the contractors need water and see if the borough could meet that demand.
Dujué said Allentown had stated in the past that it could provide water to the site by July 2009.
“To keep on target with the September 2010 timeline, you need to make a decision now,” Dujué said, advising the board to choose Aqua New Jersey for fresh water services.
One of the reasons Dujué gave for telling the board to select Aqua New Jersey was that the company has all of the permits necessary to start serving the site upon BPU approval. She said Allentown would have to petition the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for a master permit, which could take at least four to six months to obtain. She also said Aqua New Jersey does not have to make any infrastructure upgrades.
“It is my understanding that Allentown needs large infrastructure upgrades for serving the new middle school,” she said.
Dujué also told the board that Aqua New Jersey would immediately take over the maintenance of the water lines whereas Allentown stipulated that it would not. Dujué said she could not speak to the rate difference, as she still had to verify the numbers presented by Aqua New Jersey.
Board member Howard Krieger said, “I don’t think the rates matter as much as the timeline. Quite frankly, if we miss the deadline it’s going to cost us way more than the rates.”
Krieger also noted that Allentown had not started the process of getting the necessary approvals for servicing the new school.
“Even if we wanted them, it seems like there are so many hurdles,” he said.
Board member Joseph Calvitti said, “I do believe Allentown could be our water supplier. The borough is our water supplier [for the current middle school]. I request seeing the rates but believe our schedule is paramount.”
Borkowski said the board still had time to give Allentown a schedule and to see if the borough could meet that schedule.
“That’s being a good partner,” he said.
Board member Patty Hogan said Allentown forced the board’s hand in making a final decision on a water service provider. She said had Allentown not represented that the school district preferred the borough’s services, the BPU would have granted the extension and the board would have had time to still consider Allentown as an option.
“If anyone acted in bad faith it was Allentown,” Hogan said. Now we have to react to that. We have to open the school in 2010.”
Fitzpatrick said, “We are paying professionals a half of a million dollars for advice. If the project is not completed on time it will be an embarrassment to us — not having taken the advice from our professionals.”
The board voted 6-1 to send a letter to the BPU supporting the Aqua New Jersey franchise extension. Borkowski cast the dissenting vote and board members Elizabeth Trent and Doug Anthony were absent.
The board also commissioned Stampe to write Allentown a letter noting its disapproval of the borough representing the board’s stance on an issue it never voted on.
Board member Lisa Herzer said, “It’s very upsetting that Allentown is representing what this board wants. I would really like a letter to go to Allentown stating how this is really impacting our timeline.”
Hogan said, “We need to send strong communication to Allentown that it cannot speak for this board.”