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West Haven ARPA committee approves multiple vendor payments; roof closeout paperwork still outstanding
Summary
At its Oct. 7 meeting the West Haven ARPA Committee approved a series of vendor invoices for arts, fire district and utility communications work and discussed withheld closeout payments for the Child Development Center roof pending missing warranty and closeout documents.
The Oct. 7 meeting of the West Haven ARPA Committee approved a series of vendor payments from the committee’s ARPA tracker and heard an update that three closeout payments for the Child Development Center roof remain withheld because the contractor has not provided required closeout paperwork, including a warranty.
Ken Carney, chair of the West Haven ARPA Committee, opened the meeting and led the committee through line-item approvals from the meeting packet. "It's pretty self explanatory," Carney said as he introduced the committee's ARPA tracker and motions to approve multiple invoices on the agenda.
The committee voted to approve payments to the following vendors as listed in the meeting packet: Jow Films for $300 (page 10), Carmody (legal) for $7009.89.50 (pages 11–14, amount listed in packet), UHY for the amount listed in the packet as "+1 40625" (pages 15–16), East Coast Sign and Supply for $235 (page 19), two invoices for $33,450 each related to work with Mick Vak and Mr. Sandell (pages 20–21), an invoice for $460.50 for the Fire District of West Shore billed by Antonacci (page 22), three utility communications invoices listed on pages 23–30 (amounts in packet), two invoices for the Vietnam Veterans Expansion Memorial (Westcott Mapes, pages 17–18), and a $9,950 invoice for Defining Studios under arts (page 31). Each motion was seconded and carried with committee members responding "aye".
Carney said the Child Development Center roof contractor began work late and has not completed the closeout paperwork despite repeated requests. "We do owe them three payments, but they owe us close out paperwork that we have not gotten, one of which is the warranty," Carney said, and he added that the matter has been turned over to the committee’s attorney.
David Grodberg, counsel to the committee from the law firm Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey, explained the committee’s procurement review for a set of utility communications invoices. Grodberg said the town relied on a vendor’s Massachusetts state contract that permits use in other states; the committee’s outside accounting firm UHY rendered an opinion supporting the procurement approach. "They rendered an opinion that as long as they're approved in Massachusetts, they're good for Connecticut, and therefore, the competitive bidding procurement rules that would otherwise apply do not apply," Grodberg said. Grodberg and staff noted that finance relied on that opinion in recommending approval.
No additional new business was raised. The committee adjourned after approving the listed invoices and confirming follow up on the roof closeout paperwork.
Votes at a glance: The committee approved motions to pay each named invoice listed in the meeting packet (motions were seconded and recorded as "aye"; outcome: approved). Specific line items and packet pages: Jow Films ($300, p.10); Carmody legal invoice ($7009.89.50, pp.11–14); UHY (listed as +1 40625, pp.15–16); Westcott Mapes (two invoices, pp.17–18); East Coast Sign and Supply ($235, p.19); Mick Vak invoices ($33,450 each, pp.20–21); Antonacci for Fire District of West Shore ($460.50, p.22); three utility communications invoices (pp.23–30); Defining Studios ($9,950, p.31).
