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Council approves Clark Azar change order for Page Park ADA designs, requires rain‑garden plan that preserves play area; Greensweep excavation request not paid
Summary
Council approved a $4,500 change order to have Clark Azar prepare ADA-compliant designs for Page Park and required stormwater rain gardens be sited so the current children’s play area remains; a $1,500 Greensweep excavation/backfill change order was not approved and the manager was directed to seek other contractors.
The Friendship Heights Village Council approved a change order to the existing stormwater contract for Page Park so the contractor Clark Azar will prepare designs and plans to address ADA shortcomings identified in an architect’s report.
Village manager Julian Mansfield said Clark Azar would “cover the items listed in the architect's report,” including designing compliant ramps from the sidewalk into the site and patio, addressing gravel paths, stairs and handrails. The change order is $4,500 above the original stormwater contract price; council members amended the change order on the record to require that Clark Azar incorporate all recommendations in the architect Adam Green’s report. The amended motion carried unanimously (7–0).
Separately, the council considered a requested change order from Greensweep for excavation and backfill work the county inspector required for a third‑party inspection (cost quoted at $1,500). Council discussion noted the excavation was necessary to allow inspectors to observe footing and backfill work. Council members expressed concern about paying additional sums to Greensweep for work that they felt might have been expected under the original contract. Greensweep submitted a cost estimate for the excavation; council members debated whether to withhold payment from Greensweep’s outstanding balance or to engage a different contractor.
After discussion, the council did not approve the Greensweep change order. The motion for the change order was withdrawn during discussion, and the village manager was directed to seek another contractor to perform the excavation/backfill work so the inspections can proceed without adding the Greensweep change order to the currently unpaid balance. Council members emphasized the need to keep the project moving while protecting the village's bargaining position on outstanding contractor payments.
On stormwater configuration, councilors reviewed two proposed layouts for five rain‑garden basins required by county stormwater rules. The council required that any final stormwater plan maintain the current space used for the children's play area; the council’s requirement to preserve the play area passed unanimously (7–0). Village staff said if the play area is preserved the design must also include an ADA ramp to that space.
Council discussion also noted a pending legal opinion from the village land-use attorney about compliance details and that some components depend on finalized measurements and survey responses from the contractor and designer.
