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Board rejects award for storm-sewer repairs after questions on scope, late paperwork and crew training
Summary
A bid to secure equipment and crews for three storm-sewer repairs was defeated after members raised concerns about late submission of contract details, missing scope breakdowns and whether in-house crews are trained for deep trench work.
The Cheektowaga Town Board on Wednesday rejected a proposed award to CMH Company for storm-sewer repairs after a lengthy debate over contract details, late materials submitted to the board and safety and training for in-house crews.
The resolution up for a vote would have awarded a contract for equipment and operators for storm-sewer repairs covering three sites—including Dodge Street (deep storm line), Meadowlawn and a section near Starlight/Wojcick—at a total bid price that showed as roughly $28,004 for equipment and crews; town staff estimated total project costs including materials could reach about $55,000. Several council members objected that the contract paperwork arrived late in the day and that a detailed scope and itemized costs were not attached for board review.
Rick (highway superintendent, first name not recorded in roll call) told the board his department lacked staff training and certifications for some deep-trench work and that the town had just completed steps needed to begin scheduling training with the New York State Department of Transportation under a shared-services agreement that had been approved earlier in the meeting. "We didn't have the training," he said when asked directly about readiness.
Several council members said they supported using town crews where safe and feasible but wanted explicit schedules for training and clearer cost breakdowns before approving a multimember contract. Council member Jasinski pressed for a timeline for when crews would be certified to set trench shields and perform deeper excavation; the superintendent said foremen had completed training and the department was arranging additional classes for operators.
After debate and multiple proposed amendments that were withdrawn, the board took a roll-call vote and defeated Resolution 2025-716 (the storm-sewer award). The supervisor said the item could be resubmitted with clarified scope and numbers; engineering staff was asked to provide a written breakdown of the bid tab and to confirm whether single-project awards or rebidding would be required if the board wanted to proceed with only one of the three sites.
Ending: The board27s vote leaves the town responsible for prioritizing repairs and either rebidding a narrower scope, awarding a contract with clarified pricing or using trained in-house crews once certification is complete.
