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Scranton SD board debates owners‑rep role and whether to re‑bid architects and construction managers
Summary
Directors debated separating architect and construction‑management roles, re-opening professional services bids and scheduling a workshop with the owner's representative (Dewey Engineering) to review fees, past project scope and the district's procurement path forward.
Directors spent a lengthy segment questioning the district’s current owners‑representative model and whether Dewey Engineering’s combined services create conflicts of interest. Several directors urged putting all professional services (architects and construction managers) out to competitive bid rather than re‑engaging the same vendors on a percentage or sole‑source basis.
Director Casey argued for rotating vendors and awarding services on a per‑project basis to avoid vendor complacency, saying that separate architect and construction‑management contracts would provide independent oversight. Other directors and the owner's representative noted that some projects were competitively procured and that Dewey has also coordinated RFPs and selection panels; they recommended a focused workshop to review past decisions, contract language and fee structures.
The board agreed to schedule a workshop with Dewey Engineering and to defer final decisions on issuing RFPs until the full board is present and the administration supplies a detailed recommendation and timeline.
