School board in search of new solicitor as well
The Monroe Township Board of Education is another step closer to eradicating the mold problem at Holly Glen Elementary School.
The board approved Federici & Akin, an engineering firm, to go out to bid for the Holly Glen site and exterior envelope project using capital outlay funds and capital reserve funds not to exceed $2,252,704.
Superintendent Richard Perry gave an outline of the ideal scenario.
“We go out to bid tomorrow,” he said. “Close the bid in three weeks, start the work in March with the envelope needs, at the same time address the mechanical issues. A few months after that, bring back All Risk to start cleaning.”
From there Perry said they will bring in air quality testers and hygienists to ensure the environment is safe.
“The main goal here is to address the building needs and make it a safe environment so staff and students can come back,” Perry continued. “What I’d like to do prior to re-entry into the building is air quality testing, have as many officials sign off on it as we can.”
Perry said he would like to have open tours and bring in parents and students to tour the building some time over the summer.
If all goes according to plan, they could be looking at a September opening, according to Perry.
During public portion, resident Ed Knorr questioned the bid process for Federici & Akin.
“The architect and business administrator are going to review the bids,” Perry said. “The way the school system works is we’re supposed to take the lowest bidder. However, there’s certain standards all the bidders have to make.”
The bidders have to supply what will be addressed first in the bid speculations and a time frame.
“Within our bids we’re asking for a time frame in terms of when work will be completed,” Perry continued. “If they don’t complete it within a certain amount of time then they’re fined each day they go beyond that. We’re also putting alternative parts in terms of second shifts to make sure that we give it our best shot in terms of making the September opening.”
In other news:
- During the public portion, resident Jennifer Lewis-Gallagher addressed the board regarding the upcoming request for qualifications to find a new solicitor as Trimble and Armano are stepping down as the board’s solicitors. Perry responded, saying he would like to bring the applicants in front of the board in the form of a quasi-interview.
“Right now I can say the district doesn’t have any preconceived ideas of which direction they want to go with a firm, it really is open,” he said. “There’s a lot of good firms in South Jersey that I’ve worked with and there’s some from North Jersey. The way we’re going to write it [the request for qualifications] will be open, inclusive and we’re interested in who can provide the best service to the schools.”
- The next board of education meeting is Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. at Williamstown High School. This meeting is a special budget meeting.
