BERLIN–Not a single Worcester County Commissioner voiced displeasure or doubt Tuesday when county library officials said they wanted to skip the formal bidding process and hire architect Jeff Schoellkopf to provide design and consultant services for the proposed new branch library in Berlin, but some want to give others the opportunity to bid on the work.
“We have a responsibility to the taxpayers to get competitive bids,” Commissioner Judy Boggs said.
“We are convinced . . . Jeff Schoellkopf is the right person to be the team captain of the project team,” Mark Thomas, county library director, told the commissioners.
Thomas said he and members of the Worcester County Library Board of Trustees had looked at Schoellkopf’s skills and knowledge because they believe it is critical to have someone with knowledge and experience. Schoellkopf is the principal architect of The Design Group of Warren, Vermont.
“We feel it’s a responsible decision,” Thomas said.
Boggs told them they could specify in bidding documents that knowledge and experience were requirements, but Ron Cascio, president of the Worcester County Library Board of Trustees, pressed for the commissioners to approve Schoellkopf for the work.
“I know his work well,” Cascio said. “A lot of people have used him for decades.”
Boggs stood her ground.
“In fairness, we have a responsibility to other bidders,” Boggs said. “There may be other architects with that experience.”
Thomas conceded that there would be considerable interest from other architects in the project.
Bud Church, president of the commissioners, and Commissioner Virgil Shockley were also wary of giving the work to one person without seeking bids from others.
Cascio was firm about not wanting to seek bids. He even said it would be unfair and a waste of time to seek bids for the project. They already had the “right guy,” he said.
After more discussion, the commissioners directed Thomas and Cascio to return in two weeks with additional information about some of the costs included in Schoellkopf’s proposal. His preliminary estimated fees were $240,000 for basic fees of architectural work, interiors, site planning and project administration plus $100,000 for engineering costs.
The library would replace the existing library on Main Street. Built in 1970, it is now deteriorating and a new building is needed. That library is also too small and it is on land owned by the Berlin Volunteer Fire Company, which wants to use it for other purposes.
The new library would be on Harrison Avenue, not far from the existing library. In an Aug. 25 letter to the county commissioners, Cascio wrote that the board of trustees is “committed to creating a facility that will be a marvelous public library, a learning center and a focal point for the entire Berlin community. At the same time we want a building that meets high standards for efficiency of operating and maintenance costs. We want a library that is designed to minimize energy use to the greatest extent feasible. We want a library that incorporates building and finish materials that will endure for a long time and keep periodic maintenance and repair costs to an absolute minimum.”
“We have a responsibility to the taxpayers to get competitive bids,” Commissioner Judy Boggs said.
“We are convinced . . . Jeff Schoellkopf is the right person to be the team captain of the project team,” Mark Thomas, county library director, told the commissioners.
Thomas said he and members of the Worcester County Library Board of Trustees had looked at Schoellkopf’s skills and knowledge because they believe it is critical to have someone with knowledge and experience. Schoellkopf is the principal architect of The Design Group of Warren, Vermont.
“We feel it’s a responsible decision,” Thomas said.
Boggs told them they could specify in bidding documents that knowledge and experience were requirements, but Ron Cascio, president of the Worcester County Library Board of Trustees, pressed for the commissioners to approve Schoellkopf for the work.
“I know his work well,” Cascio said. “A lot of people have used him for decades.”
Boggs stood her ground.
“In fairness, we have a responsibility to other bidders,” Boggs said. “There may be other architects with that experience.”
Thomas conceded that there would be considerable interest from other architects in the project.
Bud Church, president of the commissioners, and Commissioner Virgil Shockley were also wary of giving the work to one person without seeking bids from others.
Cascio was firm about not wanting to seek bids. He even said it would be unfair and a waste of time to seek bids for the project. They already had the “right guy,” he said.
After more discussion, the commissioners directed Thomas and Cascio to return in two weeks with additional information about some of the costs included in Schoellkopf’s proposal. His preliminary estimated fees were $240,000 for basic fees of architectural work, interiors, site planning and project administration plus $100,000 for engineering costs.
The library would replace the existing library on Main Street. Built in 1970, it is now deteriorating and a new building is needed. That library is also too small and it is on land owned by the Berlin Volunteer Fire Company, which wants to use it for other purposes.
The new library would be on Harrison Avenue, not far from the existing library. In an Aug. 25 letter to the county commissioners, Cascio wrote that the board of trustees is “committed to creating a facility that will be a marvelous public library, a learning center and a focal point for the entire Berlin community. At the same time we want a building that meets high standards for efficiency of operating and maintenance costs. We want a library that is designed to minimize energy use to the greatest extent feasible. We want a library that incorporates building and finish materials that will endure for a long time and keep periodic maintenance and repair costs to an absolute minimum.”