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Council approves contract with Keystone to retain inspector at reduced rate; vote 5-0 to expedite
Summary
Council authorized an agreement with Keystone Associates to provide construction inspection services using inspector Gary Webb at a reduced hourly rate. Council voted 5-0 to expedite and approve the contract, with funding drawn from existing project lines.
During the July 28 work session, Ron Lake presented RL25-123, a resolution to enter into an agreement with Keystone Associates for construction administration and inspection services. Lake said Keystone’s inspector, Gary Webb, previously served on the Binghamton Plaza trail replacement project and has been effective.
Lake told the council he negotiated a lower hourly rate for Webb — “we’re paying what Keystone pays him with maybe a 1 or 2% markup” — and estimated the city’s cost would be about $30–$40 per hour less than prior inspector rates. Lake said he will deploy Webb to street reconstruction and other construction jobs and that using Webb would allow higher-cost staff (including an engineer identified as Ray) to be reallocated.
Council member(s) moved to expedite the matter; a roll call vote recorded the outcome as Aye from Council member Murray, Council member Cavanagh, Council member Rathmell, Council member Madovetsky and Council president Pro Tem Hotchkiss, with two council members absent. The clerk announced that the vote was 5–0 in favor.
Lake said the funds to pay the inspector will come from existing project lines. Council members characterized the arrangement as a cost-saving, short-term solution and noted the city’s departments remain “very thin” on staff.
The contract authorization was approved by the council during the expedited vote, and Lake said the inspector will be used on current and upcoming construction projects.
