Chester council debates removing not-to-exceed cap on Colliers engineering contract; members seek oversight and clearer reporting

City of Chester council members discussed Resolution 31 on Feb. 24, 2025, a proposal to continue using Colliers Engineering & Design under the hourly rates in the original professional-services agreement rather than a fixed not-to-exceed dollar cap. The item drew extended questions about oversight, billing detail and how project costs are funded.

The matter matters to taxpayers because Colliers' engineering work has accounted for more than $1 million in billed work to date and is tied to large capital projects such as the planned Public Works building. Council members said they want clearer documentation showing what Colliers is doing and which funding sources pay for specific charges.

Discussion points included how invoices are submitted and reviewed, whether client authorization forms are being used for each project, and how the council will be kept informed about spending. A council member said, “we're spending a lot of money, with Colliers, and I'm a little concerned,” and asked for proof that work billed to the city produced visible results in neighborhoods.

City…