Commission reviews time extension for W. Johnson engineering work on wastewater project

The Millville City Commission discussed a time extension for W. Johnson engineering services tied to the third secondary clarifier work at the city's wastewater treatment project. Officials said the proposed action is a time extension to avoid re‑bidding midproject and that it does not increase the contract dollar amount.

Staff reported that the original contract amount was $351,000 and that about $20,000 has been spent to date. Commissioners and staff agreed the extension is needed because project delays mean the firm would otherwise have to stop work and the city would have to restart procurement to reach the same point in the schedule.

One commissioner emphasized that the extension is intended to preserve continuity: a new engineer midproject would require reopening procurement and likely delay completion. Staff described the matter as a clerical extension to keep the project moving and avoid payment disruptions; no change to the contract’s dollar value was reported in the discussion.

Commissioners asked questions about how much has been spent so far and whether the amount being extended was already encumbered from capital funds; staff said the full $351,000 had been encumbered from the capital account and that the time extension does not add new authorization of funds. The commission’s discussion did not record a formal vote on the time extension in the available transcript.

The commission then proceeded to other agenda items, including a separate motion that removed an ordinance in first reading on solid‑waste deductions.