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Tarpon Springs approves $398,000 change order for clerk's office after heated debate
Summary
The Board of Commissioners approved a $398,000 contract change order to finish the new clerk's office building after lengthy discussion about project delays, withheld subcontractor payments and whether to call the contractor's bond; Vice Mayor Mike Eisner cast the lone no vote.
The Tarpon Springs Board of Commissioners voted to approve a $398,000 change order for the construction of the city's new clerk's office, amid sharp questioning from commissioners and detailed explanations from the contractor and staff.
Bob Robertson, director of Project Administration, told the board the amount is the minimum the contractor (DeMar/DMR) says it needs to complete the project. Robertson said the city has already provided roughly $300,000 in additional funding, has released contingency funds and will require invoice review tied to completed work before releasing payments.
Andrew Cordell, vice president for the general contractor, said his firm has absorbed nearly $400,000 in unrecoverable direct and indirect costs and paid about $100,000 in self-performed work to keep the project moving. Cordell described staffing turnover and design issues, and said DeMar would forgo an estimated $200,000 in projected profit. "We stayed engaged and tried to protect the city and finish the project," he said.
Commissioners pressed staff on accountability, payment controls and alternatives. Robertson said payments will be routed through the surety and reviewed against percent-complete invoices so the city would not advance money beyond work completed.
Commissioner David Banther and others said they were reluctant but would follow staff recommendations; Commissioner Frank DiDonato expressed discomfort with the situation but deferred to staff. Vice Mayor Mike Eisner dissented, expressing concern about prior advanced payments and project management. The roll call showed the measure passed with a single no vote from Vice Mayor Eisner.
The board's approval allows the contractor to resume full-scale operations with a targeted completion schedule and funding split across identified accounts. Robertson said the city will continue to hold contractor payments to work completed and indicated legal and surety remedies remain options if performance falters.
The board's action was limited to the change order itself; the mayor and city attorney reminded members not to open unrelated construction dispute details during the vote.
