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July 24, 2011
To the Editor:
Questions seem to keep resurfacing regarding the Village DPW facility. This issue has not been addressed to the public in quite some time, and I think that is why people keep questioning it in other posts.
This issue is NOT going to just go away – the public has received no answers about it, and questions still loom. Sorry, but if people were going to just forget it, they would not keep bringing it up.
I would like to present a list of questions regarding the DPW facility to the Board, and I intend to ask to be allowed to address them at the next Village work session. I may not get answers, but I can ask.
So anyone who has questions, please email me at [email protected].
If you want to remain anonymous let me know, and I will not specify who asked that particular question.
Here are MY major questions regarding the issue
1. The building cost $900,000 to construct –
a. Was it ever worth $900,000? Even during the height of prices?
b. How much is it estimated to cost to fix the facility – Specifically, how much for the modifications to the building, and how much for the foundation?
c. The 2010 engineering reports state that yearly monitoring should be done on the foundation so that any weak spots can be addressed – yearly … How much is that going to cost us in the long run?
d. I ask about the value of the building not to discuss blame, but as a cost assessment – Do we need to keep throwing good money after bad just to prove that the building is usable? Would anyone out there do this with construction of a private home?
2. The foundation design and construction were retained by the Village – Yes, there are issues with the building, but it was deemed uninhabitable because of the foundation
a. Who designed the foundation?
b. Robert Gilmore signed an affidavit stating an engineer in Cuomo Engineering stamped the completed design specifications – Guess what – Stamped does not mean that they did the design
c. Who designed the foundation?
I have more questions – I will ask those at a later date, these seem like a good start. What other questions are looming out there for people?
Please remember – there are only five people on the board, and their job is suposed to be representing the citizens. However, the citizens have to be willing to speak up and ask hard questions, not just let the hard questions go so that we can avoid conflict. You do not have to run for office to make a change, you do not have to be a politician to make a difference – what you have to do is be willing to stand up and fight for what you believe in – I believe that this issue is important for several reasons – The safety of the employees, government accountability and proper use of taxpayer money.
Please, join me in having a voice.
Melissa Vellone
Cornwall-on-Hudson
Comments:
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How was the money for this project raised, and what was the initial projected cost?
posted by dave house on 07/24/11 at 7:14 PM
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why must a village of just over 3 square miles need a million dollar dpw building?
we are a small village but the scope of government seems to be too big.
posted by J Buescher on 07/24/11 at 10:35 PM
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Dave House - Thanks for the question, but please email it to me. I am going to compile all of the questions that I get ...
posted by Melissa Vellone on 07/24/11 at 10:51 PM
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Mr. Buescher - Thank you for also submitting a comment, but I would also like to ask you to email it to [email protected]
If anyone wants to submit a question, please email it to this address. I would like to be able to print the emails so that I can show the board that different people are sending in questions. I feel that I should be able to provide the kind of references, and accountability that I am asking for from the Board, which is why I would like to be able to print the emails out as supporting documents.
Again - You CAN remain anonymous. I WILL black out the email address and name of anyone who submits a question and would like to remain anonymous.
I have several questions already, and no one has asked to remain anonymous yet. HOWEVER, I would like to stress again - Your questions CAN remain totally anonymous.
posted by Melissa Vellone on 07/25/11 at 3:50 PM
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There's a difference betweeen stamping the design specification and stamping the design. If Cuomo stamped the design (the analysis and the drawings), then it almost doesn't matter who designed it. It's Cuomo's responsibility that it works. But the drawings, of course, will have the design firm's name. The engineering firm...not necessarily (esp. if another PE firm stamped it)
posted by Stephen Sywak on 07/25/11 at 3:55 PM
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Melissa -- Ever since it was discovered that the building was completely illegal (as far as plan approval, permitting, inspections and C/O), the focus has been on how that could have happened. And most of those questions are already out there -- unanswered.
But you've opened an obvious and, as yet, unexplored area: value. What competitive bidding process took place to ensure that village taxpayers got good value for the cost? Were bidding rules followed? Inasmuch as proper bidding would have required specs, plans and other design documents that we now know never existed, these questions too may lead back to the baseline illegality of the project.
And underscore it.
posted by Jon Chase on 07/28/11 at 10:03 AM
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When I was involved with a local volunteer group, it always amused me that not only was there was no such thing as competitive bidding for equipment we bought--I was going to write "needed," but that would be inaccurate--and that the prices often were round numbers, like $10,000, in one case.
"Oh, okay, ten thousand dollars, that sounds good...I move we buy it. Seconded, all in favor..."
I don't know if it was true of the DPW building, but I have the feeling that some major municipal purchases are made by amateurs who wouldn't dream of buying the $1.99 potato chips when there are chips on sale for $1.59, but let them deal with more money than they'll ever see in one place in their private lives and they go a little crazy.
posted by Stephan Wilkinson on 07/28/11 at 1:05 PM
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I wouldn't call it amusing. The explanation, of course is that they don't get to use other peoples' money when they buy the potato chips.
posted by dave house on 07/28/11 at 5:21 PM
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