Assembly ratifies $55,000 change order for Lower Dudley Field realignment; members question recurring overages

The assembly ratified a $55,000 change order to the Lower Dudley Field realignment project and set the total contract value at $794,620. Public Works staff explained the increase was driven primarily by larger-than-anticipated quantities of sand for regrading and by contaminated reuse material that required replacement rather than on-site processing.

Public Works Director told the assembly the project originally planned to reuse screened sand from an earlier site, but contamination and the added cost of rescreening made the contractor's supplied sand both quicker and less expensive. The assembly accepted the change order, but several members — citing a string of projects that exceeded original estimates — urged staff to tighten scope definition and cost contingencies for future capital work.

Assembly Member Bailey called repeated change orders "a concern," noting the borough has had several projects with cost increases and urging better upfront specifications and contingency planning before projects are bid. Staff said some projects require in-construction adaptations and that remaining bond funds and project-level contingencies will cover the current overrun.

The assembly ratified the change order on a recorded vote; staff will update budget summaries and capital project reports to reflect the revised contract totals.