North Strabane officials disagree on appointments
North Strabane Township supervisors met Tuesday and discussed plans for a new public safety building and municipal building. In the rear, from left, are township solicitor Gary Sweat, Manager Frank Siffrinn and supervisors Brian Spicer, Rob Balogh, Sonia Stopperich, Marcus Staley and Bob Ross. In front are engineer Joe Sites and township staff member Deanna Kelly.
Ground has not yet been broken for two North Strabane Township facilities, but an official is already dissatisfied with the process.
Township supervisors voted Tuesday to approve three firms for construction of a public safety building and a municipal building. Supervisor Sonia Stopperich Sulc, who with Supervisor Bob Ross, voted against the appointments, believes the selection process was flawed.
“I feel like this was a big rush for no reason,” she said. “I just want what’s best for the township.”
In September 2015, supervisors hired Gateway Engineers to prepare a strategic facilities plan to assess the township’s building needs. The plan indicated that the best option for the rapidly growing municipality was to construct a separate municipal building and public works building.
Supervisors appointed a building facilities committee – Manager Frank Siffrinn, supervisors Brian Spicer and Rob Balogh, resident Mark Mansfield and township firefighter Doug Zywan – who recommended the current site of the municipal building, 1929 Route 519, as the ideal location for the new facilities. Their next task was to recommend firms for architecture, engineering and project management.
After interviewing three architectural firms Jan. 12, the committee recommended the appointment of RSSC Architecture of Wexford. Pennoni of Pittsburgh was the only engineering firm to present and Waller Corp. was the only project management firm to present. Committee members didn’t vote on those appointments Jan. 12, but Siffrinn said they had later conversations and decided to go with Pennoni and Waller.
Zywan said Wednesday he suggested waiting to make a decision on the engineer and project manager.
“I was informed yesterday morning there had been a change,” Zywan said. “I just advised taking a step-by-step approach. I evidently lost out.”
Siffrinn said supervisors and committee members were given the opportunity to present firms for consideration.
“We said we were going to stick to the ground rules and decided there was no need to go any further,” Siffrinn said. “Maybe the process could have been improved upon and we could have interviewed others. But the ones we ended up with – we’re not talking about fly-by-night organizations or firms. All of the firms were quality firms.”
Sulc, who suggested a different architectural firm, said that lay people with other jobs should not be asked to make such recommendations.
“I’m a nurse. If you asked me to recommend five physicians, I could do that,” she said. “Now if you ask me to recommend an architectural firm…”
During the committee meeting, Zywan also suggested that a separate project manager might not be needed.
“That could save money,” Sulc said.
But Siffrinn disagreed.
“The committee thought it was absolutely critical (to have a project manager) to oversee the project and have the township’s interest at heart,” said Siffrinn. “We felt we needed a third set of eyes. The project manager is going to be our representative, our designee to oversee the architect and engineer on the project.”
Siffrinn said Waller has worked on several projects for the township over the years and that its work has always been satisfactory.
As for Sulc’s suggestion that the project is being rushed, Siffrinn said there are elements that require the project to move along.
The public safety building, which will be constructed first, will be located on the site of a current softball field, which will have to be relocated for the 2018 season, he said.
The second concern is obtaining cost estimates.
“Financing will depend upon it,” Siffrinn said.
Siffrinn believes the township will finance construction costs by extending a current bond issue that was used in 2012 for construction of the municipal park.
The next step in the process is for the committee to get proposals from the firms for the scope of services, to define those services and get cost estimates. Siffrinn plans to schedule a committee meeting in early February to collaborate with the hired firms.
“My opinion is that I think you’re getting three quality firms here. I think all three firms are capable,” said Siffrinn. “I don’t think the board is going to be disappointed.”
In other business, supervisors will prepare and advertise an ordinance adopting increases in monthly sewer charges by Canonsburg-Houston Joint Authority for 2017 to 2021, and further increasing monthly user charges by 32 cents per 1,000 gallons as requested by North Strabane Township Municipal Authority.