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Public works flags East Main change order, Main Street bump-out and sewer-billing correction for council action
Summary
The public works committee plans to send a $35,810.68 change order for the East Main Street streetscape project to council, seek direction on a contested Main Street sidewalk bump-out at 311 W. Main, and notify about a forthcoming letter to 42 homeowners to correct sewer billing differences tied to an external sewer system.
Lansdale Public Works reported May 7 that several infrastructure matters will be on the next full-council agenda, including a change order for East Main Street, deliberations over a Main Street sidewalk bump-out and a planned mailing to homeowners to correct sewer-billing differences.
Councilman BJ Bryce said committee members agreed to forward change order number 4 for the East Main Street streetscape project, totaling $35,810.68, to full council. The committee noted the change order resulted primarily from utility conflicts and that the total remains within a completed project scope despite exceeding the original lowest responsible bid by 1.9%.
Bryce also reported the committee deferred a recommendation about whether to keep or remove a curb bump-out in front of 311 West Main Street. Committee members were divided and did not reach consensus, so the issue will go to full council without a committee recommendation. If the borough pursues the bump-out, staff said PennDOT coordination and permitting may be required prior to paving work, and the committee raised ongoing maintenance concerns — specifically repeated clogging of drainage features in the bump-out area.
On wastewater issues, Bryce said bidders for two sanitary-sewer rehabilitation projects (West Third Street and Edgemont Avenue) have agreed to extend their bids, giving the borough roughly 60 additional days to explore funding options. Committee members discussed combining sewer projects to attract larger contractors and achieve economies of scale; no final award decisions were made at the work session.
Bryce also announced that a draft letter to 42 homeowners in the west ward will be mailed within roughly two weeks to inform those customers of a billing alignment with the external sewer system (referred to in the department draft as the Talmaden system). The department said the homeowners have been undercharged compared with the external system's rates; the letter intends to correct the billing going forward. Committee members told council they do not currently plan to pursue retroactive billing and will use talking points internally if homeowners ask questions.
Bryce said the committee will request that PECO repave Broad Street where utility trenching occurred and noted other ongoing utility and paving work by PECO and North Penn Water Authority across borough streets.
