Phillipsburg High School gutter repair draws state investigation following bid complaint

Friday, August 28, 2009
By SARAH M. WOJCIK
The Express-Times

PHILLIPSBURG | State officials are investigating a gutter replacement project at Phillipsburg High School after a contractor in town filed a complaint about the work.

Barry Coopersmith, of Coopersmith Brothers Inc. in Phillipsburg, filed a complaint with the New Jersey Department of Education alleging that Bridgewater, N.J.-based Precision Building & Construction LLC is not performing the work specified in the contract.

Coopersmith was also behind a 2003 complaint that led to a nearly $130,000 fine against the Phillipsburg School District.

Schools Superintendent Mark B. Miller said Thursday members of the New Jersey Office of Fiscal Accountability and Compliance had stopped by the site early this week.

He said he is unworried about the investigation and happy with the work being done at the high school.

"From all indications, everything is fine," Miller said of the investigation.

The board of education authorized $900,000 for the gutter replacement project, but Miller said the final price tag came in around $500,000.

The contract for the project was not available Thursday.

Existing gutters 'far superior' to replacements

The work addresses the high school's old-fashioned Yankee gutter system, which is partly hidden among the building's intricate facade.

Precision Building & Construction was awarded the contract for the improvements at a June 22 school board meeting.

Company owner Charles Schwall, who has overseen the project, said it became immediately apparent after examining the site that a different approach than the one agreed to was necessary to repair the gutter system.

"The existing construction was far more superior than what they proposed," Schwall said.

To completely rid the building of its old-fashioned Yankee gutter system, Schwall said more demolition would have been needed before the work began.

"We made the call right on the spot," Schwall said of the changes.

Instead of full replacement, the gutter is being repaired piece by piece, preserving the older architecture, Schwall said. If anything, he said the changes should mean less of a cost to the school. He said all school officials are aware of the need for a different approach.

"That is one of the oldest high schools in New Jersey and if it doesn't become a historical landmark that's just crazy," Schwall said.

Company that complained also bid on the work

Coopersmith acknowledged that he was one of the bidders on the project and that he had lost, but he insists that's not his motivation behind the complaint.

"We bid work all the time and we lose work all the time, but we want a level playing field," Coopersmith said.

In his complaint, Coopersmith alleges that only about 10 percent of the contracted work was being completed.

Miller denied that allegation and said the progress on the high school is easy to spot.

"You can see the brand-new copper shining in the daylight," Miller said.

Schwall said district officials extended the deadline to finish the work to October but predicts the work will be finished within the next two weeks.

Department of Education spokeswoman Beth Auerswald said there is no timeframe for when the investigation will be completed.

In 2003, Coopersmith was behind a complaint filed against the district when the board did not award him a trailer installation job, despite his bid being the lowest.

The state found the district was in violation of bidding laws and fined the district $760,000.

State officials reduced the fine to $128,540 after the district appealed the ruling.