Village Board approves funding to finalize DPW building addition

At Monday’s monthly meeting, the Village of Lewiston Board of Trustees voted to use $90,250 of fund balance for supplemental project funding for the Department of Public Works building addition on Seneca Street.

The capital improvement project is providing additional space for DPW vehicles and a unit for Lewiston Beautification Commission storage.

Construction has finished, but the road to completion was rocky – in part, because it began before COVID, and prices have since gone up.

Village of Lewiston Engineer Mike Marino explained, “This is closeout. The project’s done. Actually, it looks great. It will be a great asset to the village.”

He said, “We started prepandemic, so there were costs with that. Change orders with soil. Associated time with testing, engineering – all of that.”

The board’s approved resolution reads, in part (edited for clarity):

WHEREAS, on Sept. 20, 2021, the Board of the Village of Lewiston adopted a bond resolution that authorized a capital improvement project for the Village Department of Public Works generally consisting of the construction of two additions along the south and east sides of the existing DPW garage building, and the construction of a new standalone building for volunteers, including, but not limited to, general construction, plumbing, mechanical and electrical work, as well as other improvements as more fully identified in (or contemplated by) a report prepared by Nussbaumer & Clarke in connection with such project, and including all preliminary work and necessary equipment, materials and related site work, and any preliminary costs and other improvements and costs incidental thereto and in connection with the financing thereof, at an estimated maximum cost of $1,800,000; and

WHEREAS, the village publicly advertised the project for construction and subsequently received bids on June 2, 2022, and awarded contracts to the lowest bidders, Wargo/Peak Construction, in the amount of $1,398,300; and Frey Electric, in the amount of $71,000, on June 20, 2022; and

WHEREAS, previously during the course of routine construction of the project, unforeseen conditions were encountered – in particular, poor soil conditions that required additional contractor effort and funding to mitigate; and

WHEREAS, the village previously held a public hearing on Sept. 18, 2023, at 6 p.m. at Village Hall and entered a resolution appropriating $300,000 of village general fund balance to the project to fund costs related to the then-unforeseen conditions, and amended the estimated maximum cost of the project to $2,100,000; and

WHEREAS, the village engineer, Nussbaumer & Clarke, has determined that an estimated $90,250 in additional project funds beyond the bonded funds and previously appropriated and approved additional funds may be required to complete the project; and

WHEREAS, based upon review of the general fund with the village auditor, it has been determined that fund balance can be used for supplemental project funding, and adequate funds are available in the village general fund balance;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that up to $90,250 of village general fund balance be appropriated to the project to fund costs related to the anticipated completion of the project and serve as a contingency; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the estimated maximum cost of the project shall be now amended to $2,190,250.

A public hearing ahead of the vote yielded no comments.

The newly expanded Village of Lewiston Department of Public Works building on Seneca Street.

••••••••

Other news

Trustees approved the following motions:

√ Appointing James Baptiste to the Historic Preservation Commission as an alternate/architectural consultant.

√ Approving the facilities use request from Rachel Jolbert for use of Academy Park to hold the Lewiston Artisan Farmers Market from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturdays, May 31, through Oct. 11, 2025. The market will not be held during Peach Festival weekends (setup and event).

√ A facilities use request from Ray Barry for use of Academy Park and the Alphonso I. DiMino Memorial Bandshell to hold the second annual SliceFest. The event is set for 2-11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2.

√ Permitting Lewiston Fire Co. No. 1 to act on behalf of the Village of Lewiston in negotiating a new fire protection services agreement with the Town of Lewiston.

Finally

The first Lewiston Police Department contract meeting will take place next week. Trustees Nick Conde and Tina Coppins will join counsel Joseph Leone in discussions with Town of Lewiston Supervisor Steve Broderick, Councilman John Jacoby and attorney Alfonso Marra Bax.

Around the Village of Lewiston

•Work is nearing completion on a new courtyard outside of the South Fourth Street entrance to Artpark. The garden’s centerpiece is bronze statue created by Julie Silver and donated to the Village of Lewiston by the Williams family.

•Construction is underway on a new pavilion to be located next to the Alphonso I. DiMino Memorial Bandshell in Academy Park.