Council reviews Coolidge Avenue change order after incompatible storm-inlet headpieces found

Council members on July 14 discussed a proposed change order for Coolidge Avenue work after construction crews identified that existing storm-inlet frames would not accept the new required storm-inlet headpieces and bicycle-safe grates. Township Administrator Mark DiCarlo told the council that "the existing storm inlet frames are not compatible with the NJDP required headpieces," and that the contractor's work uncovered the incompatibility after demolition at the site. The change order would upgrade up to eight inlet frames, headpieces and bicycle-safe grates to meet current standards. Council members questioned why the need for the inlet upgrades was not included in the original bid specifications. One council member said the inlet frames "were installed there prior to it," and suggested engineers should have accounted for compatibility in the bid documents. DiCarlo said the incompatibility was not evident until the contractor broke down the site components in the field and asked staff and the project engineer to inspect the site and report back. Members asked for a site visit to confirm existing conditions and requested that the engineering team explain why the issue was not identified in bid documents. The council did not approve a change order at the July 14 meeting; staff were directed to investigate and return with a short report for the next meeting.

Why it matters: The change order would alter the scope and potentially the cost of the Coolidge Avenue resurfacing project, affect project schedule and is framed as a compliance issue to meet bicycle-safety and stormwater standards.