Rrta Giving Project A Push ; Looks To Bring Back Workers, Finish Job [Intelligencer Journal (Lancaster, PA)]

Staff Writer

Nearly two months after firing the general contractor for the bus station expansion/parking garage project, Red Rose Transit Authority officials have moved to bring back idled workers to complete the $18.5 million project.

Board members of the public transit agency voted last week to authorize administrators to take the necessary action.

David Kilmer, RRTA's executive director, said he already had contacted subcontractors on the project who were idled in late October when Perrotto Builders, the Reading-based general contractor, was terminated.

Kilmer said he had requested financial information and would soon be meeting individually with 11 subcontractors.

He hopes to determine what work has been done, what remains to be completed, how much has been paid to the contractors and how much they are owed.

He also hopes to sign contracts with them to complete the labor.

Kilmer said he wants to have the workers resume their tasks at the site within the next few weeks. Once back to work, Kilmer believes the project could be completed in six to eight weeks.

Kilmer's announcement was welcome news to contractors who have not been paid for work at the North Queen and East Chestnut streets site.

"Believe me, I'm feeling your pain," Kilmer told John Marcinek, of Philly Wide Restoration, which was contracted to install sealants, expansion joints and concrete sealer on the parking garage decks.

"Let me see your wallet," replied Marcinek, who is owed nearly $110,000 for work completed on the project.

From his review of the financial records of the subcontractors and from Perrotto, Kilmer said RRTA had paid Perrotto $9.8 million for the project, which began in late 2009. Of that amount, Kilmer said, $8 million had been paid to subcontractors. He was not able to account for $1 million that went to Perrotto, he said.

Perrotto, which was unsuccessful in gaining a court injunction to stop the firing, contends it was unable to finish the work because RRTA stopped paying the company. RRTA withheld $1.3 million, Perrotto attorneys maintained. RRTA contended the termination was pursued because of delays in completing the project. It was contracted for completion in December 2010.

Since the termination of the general contractor, RRTA officials have negotiated with Travelers Insurance, which underwrote a performance bond for the project. RRTA has waited for confirmation from the company that it will step in to ensure the project is completed. Kilmer said last week that Travelers is continuing its investigation into the project to determine its liability.

The broadly worded RRTA board resolution declared "an emergency situation" and authorized administrators to take action to complete the work.

The vote followed a 40-minute closed-door executive session in which project litigation was discussed with the authority solicitor.

"The goal here is to do the right thing and get the job done," Kilmer said.

bharris@lnpnews.com