Northampton County GPA members press contractor to finish bridge punch lists after invoices approved

At the Northampton County General Purpose Authority meeting on May 6, 2025, members received project updates on multiple county bridge repairs and raised concerns about approving final contractor payments while punch-list items remain uncompleted.

The updates, delivered by Greg (staff member), covered recent completions and outstanding items on several projects, including Bridge 124, Bridge 101, Bridge 41 and Bridge 54, and prompted members to question whether the Authority should delay certain payments despite having approved invoices earlier in the meeting.

Greg said Bridge 124 is effectively complete except for two items “waiting for the grass to grow” and for temporary utility poles to be moved; he noted Verizon has not responded to requests to relocate poles. On Bridge 101 he reported substantial completion was given on April 23, with three punch-list items remaining (a hazard sign on the eastern approach, incomplete pavement markings, and removal of a compost filter sock). He said as of the status call the remaining items were expected to be completed by the end of the week, weather permitting. For Bridge 41 Greg said only one item remained: working with the property owner to address landscaping, which Krieger planned to resolve by planting trees. At Bridge 54 he said completion remains contingent on a utility pole relocation by Frontier so Med-Ed can move a guy wire.

Members confirmed that invoices were reviewed and approved earlier in the meeting, including an additional late invoice added to the packet. The invoices listed in the packet included Alfred Benish and Company for $2,316.44, Norfolk Southern (amount read in the meeting as “18 42 and 77 cents”), and PPL for $31,125.45, for a total the presenter gave as $35,284.66. A motion to approve the invoices passed with all members saying “aye.”

After Greg’s update, several members said payment to certain contractors could wait until the outstanding items are finished. Charles (board member) said, “I see no reason to pay, if that's what you're asking,” and added that he thought the contractor “can wait a month” to complete the remaining small items. Other members noted that some punch-list items—such as installing a sign—could be completed regardless of weather and questioned why they were still outstanding months after inspection. Board members and staff repeatedly framed their remarks as requests for Krieger (the contractor identified in the report) to finish remaining items before final administrative closeout and payment.

No formal motion was made at that point to withhold or rescind payment after the invoices were approved. Authority members characterized the exchange as discussion of follow-up and expectations for completion rather than a binding change in payment status. Greg and staff said they would continue to pursue the outstanding items with the contractor and with utility companies where required.

Treasurer Ron had presented the Authority’s year-to-date financial statements earlier in the meeting. In that report he stated a year-to-date net position and provided figures for the general fund and the GPA capital budget project fund; he also reported year-to-date expenses of $32,203.95 and a reported year-to-date net of negative $30,590.29. The GPA capital budget project fund was presented as a pass-through account with year-to-date revenues of $126,848.89 and expenditures shown to net to zero. Several numbers in the Treasurer’s spoken report were transcribed unclearly during the meeting; staff confirmed copies of the financial packet were provided to members.

The Authority did not enter executive session and took no additional formal action on the bridge items during the meeting. Members asked staff to continue monitoring contractor progress and to provide a status update at the next meeting. That update will inform any administrative decisions on final payments or formal acceptance of remaining items.