Finance Committee - 1/16/2019 Page 4
Mr. Cummings
If | may Mr. Mayor — | think we have a pretty good understanding of projected estimates right, so we know that
per the bond resolution $15.5 million has been authorized. We are anticipating somewhere in the vicinity of a
little over a $1 million dollars of design. But | would not want to be held to that number explicitly because you
do have that other rule which is you have to come back for every $10,000.00 increment changes and that is
tough type of contract to manage.
That is just a tough scenario to be in so having the flexibility would help greatly and at the end of the day, it is
very transparent process. | am coming before the Board of Aldermen regularly, | can gladly give you updates.
Alderman Caron
Thank you. | understand what you are saying Director Cummings, but we have had change orders come
through for many, many items. As far as the $10,000.00 purchasing that has to come before Finance, we are
looking that next week that will be changed; so that would not affect anything here. In my 8 years of being
here, | have never seen a “to-be-determined” and if we are looking at that it is going to be $1.5 million dollars of
architectural fees, then that percentage, we should be figuring that in. You talk about transparency, but this is
very difficult for us to sit here and say “Ok’ it is like opening the pocketbook and letting the money flow without
having some control over it.
Your coming before the Board is to give us an update which | think is a great thing, but for the Finance
Committee this is what we have to approve and | know that over the last 6 months, we have approved millions
of dollars for Waste Water and then have had to come back and make changes because they have had
unexpected issues. So | have to agree with my two colleagues that this could be a concern for a lot of us.
Mayor Donchess
Now when you speak of the million dollars that is the architect, that is not the 3%.
Mr. Cummings
That’s on top of that. So if | may Mr. Mayor. So if it is the pleasure of the Committee and if you want to put a
number in, not to exceed $350,000.00 | think that is a reasonable figure. It is an estimate on my part; | did
anticipate this issue coming up. | will say that | want it to be explicitly clear particularly for our finance team
here in the City that that money will probably be overage because | am coming in a little high — will need to be
transferred to maybe another line item in the project.
| don’t want to be held up because | am told that Finance Committee approved it for this dollar amount
explicitly, | can’t use that money now in a different way. Because that just ties my hands to be able to manage
this project effectively. And that was one of the reasons why | really wanted it to be done this way. But if it is
the pleasure of the Committee to put it at $350,000.00 not to exceed with the understanding that there is more
money than is probably going to be necessary and we will be looking to change that, I’m fine with that.
Alderman Caron
Thank you, for me | would rather see a figure but | would prefer you to come in a little bit lower and then come
to us and say — because of issues that we didn’t know came up we need another $25,000.00 toward the
project. | don’t think anyone on the Committee is trying to stall or keep things from moving forward, but | think
me personally, | think it is important that there is something there; that | see a figure there. And | am not trying
to be argumentative, but that is a concern that | would have and | know | would be getting phone calls about
that.
