Council approves amendments, payments for sewer rehabilitation; financing and reimbursements discussed

The city council approved an amendment to the agreement with National Water Main Cleaning Company for Sewer Rehabilitation Phase 1 and authorized a contract award for Phase 2 at the June 3 meeting, and the council also authorized partial payments to the contractor. Council roll calls recorded ayes from Comptroller Morton, Council President Brown and Mayor Patterson Howard on the amendments and payments.

City staff described the city’s approach to paying contractors up front and seeking reimbursement from multiple sources. A finance/DPW staff member said the city will use a DQIP pre-financing loan to pay some upfront costs and secure reimbursement; items paid through the Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) are typically reimbursed in about 30 days while New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) reimbursements can take roughly 90 days.

The council approved two listed partial payments to National Water Main Cleaning Company: Partial Payment No. 12 for $54,798.80 and Partial Payment No. 14 for $102,402.20. Those authorizations were recorded as resolutions and approved by roll call.

Councilors also approved an ordinance authorizing the mayor to execute an amendment to the agreement for Sewer Rehabilitation Phase 1 and an ordinance awarding a Phase 2 contract to the lowest responsible bidder; both actions were approved by voice and roll call with no recorded dissent. Staff said reimbursements and cash-flow timing will determine how the city uses pre-financing and grant funds for continued work on the sewer rehabilitation program.