As reported in The Intelligencer, Belleville council has cancelled two construction contracts held by a single firm and is suing the company to recover the city’s additional expenses.

But the project manager for the company said the city and its lawyers are responsible for the delays and the company is taking its own legal action.

Council on Wednesday held a special meeting to cancel contracts with Standard Paving Ltd. of Halifax. The separate contracts involved construction of a washroom pavilion in West Zwick’s Centennial Park and the reconstruction of an entrance area at the city’s water treatment plant.

Councillors then awarded the contracts to Tom Belch and Sons Building Contractors of Ameliasburgh.

That company had the second-lowest original bid for both projects.

In addition to legal fees, changes will cost the city a further $225,600 for the washrooms and more than $119,300 for the treatment plant job, plus legal fees.

But Mayor Mitch Panciuk said the city aims to recover those losses by suing Standard Paving for breach of contract.

“Unfortunately we weren’t getting the cooperation we needed from the contractor,” Panciuk told The Intelligencer.

Reached Thursday, Standard Paving project manager Shane Ross said company officials were unaware of Wednesday’s actions by council.

“We’re just basically arguing with them about delays,” he said of city officials. “They’re trying to pin it back on us for no good reason.

“We haven’t been notified of any actual action.

“We’re taking legal action against them, as well,” said Ross.

In written reports to council, Mark Fluhrer, the director of recreation, culture and community services, recommended cancellation of both contracts. He added the new washroom contract with Belch and Sons will be managed jointly by the city and contractor.

Keep reading in The Intelligencer

 

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