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Montague rejects bids for Zitone Ballfield after lowest bid more than doubles budget estimate
Summary
Montague Township rejected all bids for Zitone Ballfield improvements Sept. 24 after the lowest bid of $144,215 far exceeded the township's budget and engineer estimate; the township will rebid with revised plans and may split work into separate contracts.
Montague Township rejected all bids for improvements to Zitone Ballfield at its Sept. 24 meeting after the lowest bid of $144,215 substantially exceeded the township's engineer estimate and available funds.
Mayor Zitone summarized that the township had secured $73,000 in a New Jersey Local Recreation Grant and allocated $20,000 in capital for the project, which would include dugout rehabilitation, new chain-link galvanized fencing, a dome backstop and drainage work near the dugouts. Given the gap between the bids and the budget, the committee voted unanimously to reject all bids (Resolution 2024-093).
The Township Engineer will revise plans and specifications with the intent to rebid, using the Morris County cooperative purchasing option to split work into two contracts: one for a fencing company and a second for a general contractor/excavator to address dugouts and drainage. Committee members also discussed whether the Department of Public Works could perform some elements such as fence removal; Clerk Dana Klinger noted that any reduction in project scope would require amending the grant with the State.
Mayor Zitone suggested rebidding for partial work (repair one dugout and drainage plus fence and backstop) to meet cost estimates and the township will work with the engineer to prepare new bids. The committee did not adopt a new contract at the meeting.
