BOE approves water system replacement

WEBUTUCK — The North East (Webutuck) Central School District Board of Education (BOE) has approved the temporary repair and permanent replacement of the district’s water distribution center.

The approval went through unanimously — BOE member Cory Chinn was absent — at a regular board meeting at Webutuck High School (WHS), Monday, Aug. 17.

The resolution was passed in order to solidify the project’s status as an emergency, Superintendent Ray Castellani said, therefore bypassing wait time and regular procedure required by the state.

According to the resolution, water supply piping that connects WHS and Webutuck Elementary School (WES) “has developed a severe leak under the elementary school building and is in a state of failure that would lead to the complete failure to supply water and result in damage to the school building.”

The work approved in the resolution includes temporary repair of piping (so that water flow remains during the duration of the project) and permanent replacement of the system.

“The use of other short term solutions will not restore the water supply pumps to a fully functional state and would only result in a short term remedy that could fail at any time during a time when school is in session,” the resolution states. “The current and expected continued failure of the water distribution system requires immediate replacement to preserve the property and to assure the health and safety of students and staff.”

As an emergency action, “contract for the repair and replacement … will be awarded immediately. Therefore, no competitive bidding will be utilized.”

The district engineer, Morris Associates, contracted Harkin Mechanical for the physical work.

Costs will be expended from the General Fund and include no more than $20,000 for the temporary repair, no more than $191,000 for the permanent replacement and no more than $22,000 for engineering.

Castellani said the project should be complete by the first week of school. 

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