Town Board Approves Resolutions For Downtown Revitalization, Germonds Park And TV Studio

Clarkstown Town Board members voted on Tuesday night to amend the agreement with Behan Planning Associates and Maser Consulting for design services in conjunction with the Main Street Revitalization Project. The original agreement provided for the professional planning, design and engineering consultants to be paid an amount not to exceed 14 percent of the total construction cost of the project or $2.4 million. 

The actual cost of Phases I and II and Congers Road work wound up being higher than anticipated, resulting in the consultants providing additional services. The amended agreement provides for the firms to receive a total payment of $2.6 million. The resolution also noted that according to an October 6, 2009 agreement, Rockland County was responsible for paying up to $2 million of the costs associated with the work on Congers Road. 

A second resolution approved by the board also dealt with Behan’s services for Phase III of the Revitalization Project. The firm, which has a New City office, submitted a proposal on June 29 “to provide construction administration and observation services.”  The board authorized the supervisor to enter into an agreement for those services that would cost no more than $290,000. 

Maser Consulting of West Nyack also received approval for up to $800,000 of construction administration services for Phase III of the project. Its proposal was dated May 31.

Additional funds to complete the Town Hall TV studio and records storage area were approved by board members.  They authorized Supervisor Alex Gromack to amend the agreement with Lorencin Contracting of New City and add $105,600 for additional shelving, lighting, ceiling repairs and carpeting and $16,991 to the contract with DCAK Architecture of Nyack for HVAC system modifications, structural modifications and specifications and consultation regarding the purchase of AV equipment. 

The resolutions state the fees are “within the budgeted amount for the project previously approved by the town board and shall be offset by the PEG grants from Verizon and Cablevision.

In response to a resident’s question about the opening of the TV studio, Gromack said he expected it would be put into use in 2013.

Contracts with the same two firms were modified for their work on the police department’s communications room.  DCAK’s agreement was amended for an additional $57,665 for design modifications while Lorencin’s was amending by $105,600 for change orders. 

The need for additional work at Germonds Park Ballfield cost the town approximately $12,000 more.   The board approved a change order for West-Con Contracting of Tuckahoe in the amount of $3,090 for additional drainage.  The firm’s initial bill for its field expansion work totaled $419,166 for bids approved in January and September 2011.

Paul Bitts Co. of New City and Yaboo Fence of West Nyack received payments of $7,400 and $1,500 respectively for correcting the water main and fencing.

Two bond resolutions gained approval. The resolution for $133,000 provides for the construction and installation of a salt storage structure. The resolution for $430,000 covers various drainage improvement projects in the town.