Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council presses contractor and staff over generator, transfer-switch work and added costs
Summary
A prolonged discussion about automatic transfer switches, variable frequency drives and a town generator revealed multiple change orders and warranty questions; council members expressed frustration at design oversights and asked for clearer cost breakdowns before deciding on additional spending.
Council members spent the largest portion of the Feb. 10 meeting on technical issues and cost overruns tied to the town's automatic transfer switch (ATS) and generator work at the wastewater plant.
Town staff said recent tests showed a variable frequency drive (VFD) can mitigate the startup current spikes that had prevented the plant generator from running the full load. "The test was successful," staff told the council, describing how the VFD allowed motors to come online without tripping the generator.
But the project has produced multiple change orders and new line items. Staff and contractors cited an installation labor line of $19,662 and parts and warranty packages that pushed some line totals into the tens of thousands of dollars; one composite figure discussed in the meeting was $31,822.34 for parts and installation, while other package totals were cited around $70,070.
Several council members pressed for clarity. "From where I'm sitting, it ain't been your best effort," one member said, criticizing planning and saying the town now bears unexpected costs. Council members asked whether warranty terms cover replacements or repairs, whether parts had been purchased by the town (raising later questions about the town owning items it might not be able to use) and whether a larger replacement generator would be more cost-effective than repeated change orders.
Contractors and staff responded that they had tested the existing generator, had replaced fuel lines and that VFD testing showed the approach could work when motors are brought up in controlled sequence. They also said some purchased items may fall under manufacturer warranties rather than contractor warranties and agreed to provide a clearer itemized breakdown of cable lengths, plug types and warranty coverage.
The council deferred making a final decision and asked staff to return with contract documents, proof of work, warranty clarification and a detailed cost breakdown for wire, plug and installation amounts before approving further change orders.
No formal action to approve additional funding was taken at the meeting; council members said they want to see the contract detail and warranty language before committing further town funds.
