Garage demolition pick angers firm that bid less
A Kingston NY company that often gets contracts for city paving work has been selected by Mayor James Sottile to demolish the dilapidated Uptown parking garage, much to the chagrin of a competing bidder.
Arold Paving, which offered to tear down the condemned North Front Street structure for $589,000, was the second-lowest bidder for the job, but it was recommended by consulting engineer John Stinemire, according to Kingston Mayor James Sottile.
The decision to use Arold also was supported by Kingston Fire Chief Richard Salzmann, who heads the city's Building Safety Division, and members of a city panel advising the mayor about the demolition.
But low bidder David Kornell, owner and president of KC Sunshine Enterprises in Haines Falls, Greene County, said he should have received the contract. KC Sunshine offered to raze the garage for $549,000.
"I was $40,000 cheaper," Kornell said. "I have gone through all the numbers, and I know I could do it for that."
Kornell said it appears to him that the city is granting the contract to a familiar and more local firm.
But Sottile and others said KC Sunshine was ruled out after the city received reports of problems with the company.
Sottile supplied statements from officials in other municipalities criticizing Kornell's work. Those officials were interviewed by Stinemire during search for a demolition contractor.
Hunter Superintendent of Highways John Farrell told Stinemire that working with Kornell's company "was not a good experience."
Farrell said Kornell did not follow specifications for a project, cut costs at the expense of the project and "was difficult to work with and did not follow instructions very well," according to Stinemire's notes.
Also, Salzmann said Kornell has no experience in demolition.
Kornell, however, supplied letters from municipal leaders praising his work. He owned a different company, called M&D Leas Holding Corp., at the time the letters were written.
"The village of Tannersville is completely satisfied and appreciates work that was done on the Huckleberry Trail Bike Path," wrote former Tannersville Mayor Glenn Weyant. "It was a pleasure working for your company."
In another letter, former town of Hunter Supervisor Richard Rem wrote: "We would enthusiastically recommend M&D to any municipality for excavation and site work."
Sottile said he followed expert advice in selecting Arold.
"The fact of the matter is that I have been advised by our panel of experts, which includes two engineers, that the low bidder is not qualified," Sottile said.
Before Arold can be hired, the Kingston Common Council must approve borrowing money for the demolition.
The demolition is expected to occur next month.
The parking garage, was has 317 spaces, was declared unsafe shut down in February after pieces of concrete fell from ceilings in the structure.
The city is in the process of deciding what type of development would be best to replace the 37-year-old building.
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