HILLSBOROUGH: High estimates doom high school painting project

By Gene Robbins, Managing Editor
   School board members rejected — almost angrily — an administration suggestion for painting rooms, halls and the gym at the high school after finding out the “low bid” was almost five times the estimate cost of earlier this year.
   The item on the July 23 agenda called for authorizing the painting of some of the oldest areas of the high school to J.G. Painting & Contracting Co., of Franklin Township, for a total job price of $156,750.
   When asked, administrators said they had projected the job to be about $33,000 when it was discussed as a capital improvement item in March. But the project wasn’t bid until this summer with estimates opened July 19.
   Superintendent Jorden Schiff speculated the high bids might have been because contractors were asked to get the work done by Aug. 31 — only five weeks away.
   The work would have included painting rooms and door frames in the 100, 200 and 300 wings, plus painting the gymnasium.
   The item came to board members late in the previous week and hadn’t been discussed by the operations committee.
   Two weeks prior, the board authorized taking money from the capital reserve account to cover foreseen overruns in capital projects. However, to spend $156,750 on painting might threaten completion of other projects, said Board Secretary Aiman Mahmoud.
   Member Jennifer Haley liked the situation to a homeowner who wanted to paint a kitchen, but getting quotes two or three times the expectation.
   ”I don’t get it done,” she said, calling the price “extravagant.”
   Member Thuy Anh Le asked why the bids went out late.
   ”Rather than do something the wrong way, I’d rather delay it or do it in parts,” she said. “It’s hard to swallow at this price.”
   The agenda showed three companies picked up the 378-page bid document packages, but only J.G. Painting submitted any estimate. There were options to paint combinations of wings of the school. The agenda recommended awarding the “low bid” — wording to which Ms. Le objected.
   ”Don’t say ‘low bid,’” she said. “That’s insulting.”
   Vice President Judy Haas asked if there was any way the work could be done in house or even have students paint murals.
   Member Lorraine Soisson asked if the project had safety implications. When told no, she said a “500 percent markup” from the estimate wasn’t responsible to taxpayers.
   The board vote was 8-1 with Christopher Pulsifer voting yes.
   When it came to her turn to vote, Ms. Le choked out, “Absolutely no.”