Chesapeake Beach council authorizes design-build negotiations with Paddock Pools, waives competitive procurement

The Chesapeake Beach Town Council on Oct. 16 authorized staff to prepare and negotiate a design-build contract with Schiavo (Schiavo/Schabel) Contracting and Paddock Pools to replace the town's water park and waived competitive procurement requirements, voting 5–1 in favor.

Council members debated whether the final, signed contract should be returned to the full council for public review before the mayor signs it. Several council members said they want the document presented in an open meeting before execution; others said the normal award-and-authorization process followed by staff, the town attorney and an independent owner's representative provides sufficient protections.

"I would like the council to to know the contract and to have it presented in the public and to have a vote on the opinion of the council, on that particular contract prior to it being signed," Councilmember (unnamed in transcript) said during the discussion. The amendment that would have removed the mayor's authority to sign prior to council review failed for lack of a second.

Why it matters

The water park has been closed and repeatedly raised in public comment throughout the meeting. Restoring the park is a high-profile, high-cost project the council has positioned as a priority. The council's vote both authorizes staff to complete negotiations with the original site's builder and makes a formal procurement finding that a…