Changes follow change orders with H.S. project Project now overseen by new panel, manager, facilities director BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer SAYREVILLE - The Board of Education announced it is taking a more aggressive strategy to carry out the $47 million high school construction project. For one thing, Dennis Pantiliano has recently been hired to serve as director of facilities and operation for the district, and is now considered the board's "watchdog" for the ongoing high school additions and renovations. Pantiliano is ensuring that the work being done is to the board's satisfaction and that any change orders brought to the board are absolutely necessary. "I wish we hired him a year and a half ago," said Board of Education President Michael Macagnone. Board member Curtis Clark said Pantiliano was chosen for the job because of his extensive background in construction. "He comes with vast experience, especially in the area of construction," Clark said. "He holds certification in construction. He knows all of the rules and regulations." Macagnone said the board was dissatisfied with the individual who was managing the construction project on behalf of the board's hired consultant, Epic Management. He said Epic changed the manager of the project after the board expressed its concerns. The board approved two change orders for the installation of overhead and fire-rated doors, totaling $57,000, at its meeting Tuesday. This is in addition to $813,000 in recent change orders that officials said were necessary to move the project forward. School Business Administrator Emidio D'Andrea said the original doors to the current gymnasium, locker rooms and a storage room were not fire-rated and need to be taken out. He added that the district is receiving a credit for some of the doors, which will be fire-rated over three hours. "The board is receiving credit for two additional doors," D'Andrea said. Clark told the Suburban that the fire subcode official found that calculations made on the requirements for the original doors necessitated the new ones. "It is very technical, with the understanding that this is for the most safety for everybody who uses our facility, especially our children," Clark said. Macagnone said the board's newly formed construction oversight committee recently added board member Thomas Biesiada, since he is part of the buildings and grounds committee. "I formed this committee because I had concerns," Macagnone said. The buildings and grounds committee is made up of board members Pat Lembo, Clark and Biesiada. The construction oversight committee, composed of Macagnone, board member Kevin Ciak, Lembo and now Biesiada, is on the same page with buildings and grounds, according to Clark. "I chair the buildings and grounds committee, which deals with the day-today things that come up," Clark said. "Both committees are aware of what's going on." Resident Barbara Kilcomons said during a public portion of the meeting that the cost of the firewall, which was roughly $250,000, contributed significantly to the total cost of the change orders. "Eight hundred thousand dollars is a lot of money," Kilcomons said. She said she feels the district should have pursued litigation against those responsible for leaving out the firewalls. "My question is, you decided not to seek litigation, yet the architect came in here and admitted to the error," Kilcomons said. D'Andrea said the board can pursue legal action later if it wishes to, but a good portion, roughly 80 to 85 percent of the contract, has already been paid. Macagnone said that RSC Architects will owe the board money by the end of the project, and the board will "cash in its chips" at that time. The question over the board's ability to pursue litigation is a closed-session matter for the time being, Clark said. He added that the board is leaving its options open, and Macagnone is doing everything he can to keep the board and the public informed of developments. "I think Mr. Macagnone, the president, has done an outstanding job," Clark said. "He understands that this is such a worthwhile investment of taxpayer money. He has his finger on the pulse to make sure it is a world-class facility, while keeping in mind the money involved." Kilcomons also raised concerns about the quality of the work that is being done at the high school, and Ciak attempted to address those issues. Ciak said rumors that there are going to be no bathroom facilities in the new D wing are not true, since the building will be linked to the A wing and will have lavatories constructed in the area where the two wings meet. "I think the tone [of public comments on the wing] will change significantly once they get in the facility," Ciak said. The borough building department's requirement that the district obtain a temporary certificate of occupancy (TCO) for the D wing has not yet been met, but Clark said the board is anticipating the receipt of a TCO in the next few weeks. "It should be soon," Clark said. "It was just some drawing issues. They had to be delivered to the building department." During the public portion of Tuesday's meeting, resident John Bovery suggested that the board supply the public with a checklist on the progress of the project, in the interest of getting information out to parents and residents in an efficient and timely manner. "The more you disclose, the better you're going to look when it goes out in a wash at the end," Bovery said. "Talk about it now, don't wait until the end." Macagnone said at the meeting that he is confident the remaining issues will be worked out in time for the D wing to be operational later this month. He added that the furniture for the building was delivered and needs to be moved into the various rooms in the wing. Clark said that while phase one took longer than expected, work on phase three is already in place and the district is fairly close to getting back on schedule for the September 2009 opening. He added that the board is satisfied with the work that was completed so far on the D wing. "It's a beautifully designed and constructed building," Clark said.