Double award for repaving contract raises council questions

By JOHN HOWELL
Posted 8/22/19

Everyone has a story about Warwick roads, and all nine City Council members were in agreement when they approved a $4 million repaving budget for this year.

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Double award for repaving contract raises council questions

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Everyone has a story about Warwick roads, and all nine City Council members were in agreement when they approved a $4 million repaving budget for this year.

But then, as the budget played out and the gloom of a massive structural deficit hung over the city – with the school district cutting more than $7 million from its budget, including sports – the paving budget was cut to $1.5 million.

That’s not going to take the city far.

According to Robert Knox, general manager of the asphalt division at the Cardi Construction Corp., $1.5 million will buy 10,000 tons of asphalt, which would overlay about five miles of road or completely resurface just 2½ miles. Warwick has 400 miles of roads, and that’s not including state highways.

But even before the council approved the Cardi contract Monday, it hit a pothole when the administration recommended that the award go to two contractors – Cardi, who as low bidder has consistently won the contract since the 1990s, and D’Ambra Construction.

“I can’t support the concept of more than one bidder [being awarded]. I don’t see the need to go with an alternative bidder,” said Finance Committee Chairman Ed Ladouceur, setting the stage for a half hour debate including a face-off between Council President Steve Merolla and Chief of Staff William DePasquale. A frustrated Stephen A. Cardi, vice president of the Warwick-based company that does much of the state roadwork, called the incident a “personal affront.”

Merolla was mystified why Department of Public Works Director Mathew Solitro would recommend a joint award when Cardi’s bid represents a $138,000 savings from what D’Ambra proposed. Further, he couldn’t find any logic to having a backup contractor should Cardi not be able to complete the work when Cardi easily handled $4 million of city repaving last year.

Solitro reasoned the city would gain flexibility to ramp up repaving, as Mayor Joseph Solomon suggested could be possible through bonding, if the city had contracts with more than one contractor.

Merolla, however, pointed out that it would be at least two years before funds from a bond would become available, assuming they were approved by the council and gained voter approval next November. DePasquale revealed the mayor is looking to use already approved funds for drainage work to complete more repaving this year. He suggested an addition million in funding for this year.

This was news to Merolla and other members of the council, raising questions over when voters had approved a drainage bond and whether the funds could be used for repaving.

“If that’s the administration’s plan, why isn’t an additional $1 million before us?” Merolla asked.

Both councilmen Steve McAllister and Timothy Howe reasoned having two contractors with approved contracts for repaving gives the city flexibility to get the work done in a timely manner. If one contractor is tied up, then the other can fill in.

“It’s not going to hurt to have a backup,” McAllister said.

Cardi remained incredulous that such redundancy is needed, especially given the company’s history in completing work on time and its performance.

“I don’t get it. This is a drop in the bucket,” he said, pointing out that the company is currently working on a $12 million repaving project without complications.

Ladouceur said it makes sense to have multiple contracts for products such as salt and sand because they can be difficult to obtain when demand is high and they are needed immediately to make icy roads safe.

Ladouceur also questioned if the administration had a list of roads to be repaved with the $1.5 million and how that would be spread between wards.

DePasquale said the selection of roads to be repaved is based on a rating system. He didn’t offer a list.

Ward 1 Councilman Rick Corley pointed out that not a single road was repaved in his ward last year, and as far as he knows the only repaving that will be done this year is a byproduct of Governor Francis Farms sewer work. In that case, he noted, the city isn’t paying for the work, but rather the homeowners through their sewer assessment.

Corley found an instant ally in Ladouceur. He pointed out that he has argued for years that repaving costs of sewer construction should be paid for by the city, since they are city roads.

The committee referred the paving contract to the City Council without taking a vote. It will be listed on the Sept. 4 council agenda.

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