Summit Centre roof repairs awarded as sole source contract

By Mark Squibb/November 18, 2021

Mount Pearl has awarded Summit Centre roof repairs to North Shore Roofing through a sole source contract rather than competitive bidding, meaning the company was chosen without checking comparative bids from other companies.

It was done, explained councilor Mark Rice, to protect and extend a warranty.

“Back in July, council, in a committee of the whole meeting, decided to move forward with a sole source roof repair through the original roof membrane manufacturer to ensure both quality work and to ensure the integrity of the existing roof warranty, which was extended, by negotiations, from a 10-year material only to a 15-year materials and labor along with a 25-year materials warranty,” he explained.

The quote received from North Shore Roofing to complete the repair was $99,790, HST included.

Rice said with the winter weather and the funding deadline of December 31 approaching fast, the City ought to move quickly on the matter.

Councilor Jim Locke said council is often reluctant to embark on sole source contracting, and he wanted it clarified whether the City went this particular route to protect the warranty or could they have gone with another bidder.

Director of Infrastructure and Public Works Gerry Antle explained that in order to keep the warranty integral to all of the building to one manufacturer, the committee brought to council the recommendation to have the work sole scoured.

Locke then asked for an assurance that going this route will protect the warranty, to which Antle said it would.

Mayor Dave Aker noted that while sole sourcing isn’t necessarily a red flag, it requires an explanation at the council table, as competitive bidding is how you typically get best value.

Either way, Mount Pearl is actually paying for very little of the project.

The City was approved for $125,770 in provincial government COVID stimulus funding for the Summit Centre roof repairs and a Track & Field accessible ramp/walkway entrance. The City’s contribution to the project is $13,970.

City adds more features to accessible playground at St. David's

By Mark Squibb/November 18, 2021

Mount Pearl city council approved another change order Tuesday to ensure the accessible playground being built at St. David’s Park is supported with all the infrastructure it requires.

Change order seven, related to the coordination of the new smart accessible playground, had no trouble passing.

“The scope of the project is to replace underground water, asphalt, curb, gutter, and sidewalk,” explained councilor Mark Rice. “The site of St. David’s Avenue work is in close proximity to the site of the new smart, accessible playground, which was at the concept stage during the same time. The concept included a proposed greenbelt to enable more landscaped area, and a new sidewalk. As a result of some overlap between the two projects, and to achieve objectives of the projects to maximize efficiency, council approved changes to address specific issues as they arose.”

Change order number seven was broken down into two separate pieces, the first for the relocation of a storm sewer and catch basin to accommodate the new playground at a price of $40,990, with calculated adjustments at a cost of roughly $20,940, for a total of $61,880.

Later in the meeting, councillor Isabelle Fry made an additional motion on a further change order.

“When we announced our smart playground, we were all so happy and proud about it,” said Fry. “We received some positive feedback from residents, but we also received some suggestions.”

Fry went on to say that change orders were proposed following consultations with user groups.

“It was agreed that enhancements to accessibility should be considered, including ramps, ground-based activity panels, and an adult change table should be researched for possible inclusion.”

The total change order for accessibility enhancement is $84,200.

On September 21, council voted unanimously on a number of change orders related to those features.

Four change orders related to expanding the scope of the project to include a new washroom and play equipment. Those change orders, submitted by Tract Consulting resulting from revisions to the tendered drawings, totalled about $7,760.

Three more change orders represent accessibility enhancements and deletions to the tendered contract, including the enhancement of the small play structure to be fully wheelchair accessible ($28,955.85, HST included), addition of three independent ground-based activity panels ($17,666.30, HST included), and removal, supply, and installation of a "quad rope tower” ($9,533.50, HST included).

Missing from those motions however was the adult change table.

“Now that the research has been complete, the adult change table change order is confirmed at $39,417,” said Fry. “And this includes building enlargement and adult change table with lift capabilities. And this is really important. It’s important to have.”

Councilor Bill Antle said he was glad to see the new addition.

“We’ve heard from residents that this is something that was needed,” said Antle. “And an adult sized change table is something that sets us apart, I think. And it’s something we need. I was talking to a resident a while ago, and she had to change her child on the floor of a restaurant. And that’s something that’s terrible to have to do that. But now we have this in our playground, and I think that’s a good thing to do.”

The initial change order, approved in August of 2020, for the St. David’s Avenue Street Construction Project as it relates to St. David’s Park would allow the creation of a green belt connection and more natural flow between the existing St. David’s Park and the smart accessible playground location, while also providing increased safety, and allowing blue zone spaces. That change order consisted of two parts, $2,783.00 (HST included) for Newfoundland Design to amend design work and $5,735.05 (HST included) for Modern Paving Ltd. to amend road construction.

Director of Infrastructure and Public Works Gerry Antle said that while groundwork, or ‘civil work,’ on the new playground is currently underway, the new playground equipment will not be put into place until next year.

The playground was officially announced in August of 2021. The cost is just under a million dollars, with the City committing $661,400, and the rest split between the federal and provincial governments.

Mount Pearl receives funding for Jackman Drive

By Mark Squibb/November 11, 2021

Residents of Jackman Drive will be glad to hear their street will be getting an upgrade.

Back in November of 2020, the council approved an application for funding from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure program, a cost sharing program in which federal, provincial, and municipal governments chip in money to complete public works projects.

The money will cover water, storm, sanitary, asphalt, curb and sidewalk replacement on Jackman, said councilor Mark Rice, who quoted the work at $4.5 million.

Council received notification of funding approval on August 28. The terms were that the federal government would cover 40 percent of the cost, with the remainder split evenly between the province and the city.

Mayor Dave Aker said the City had intended to repave most of Jackman Drive and Olympic Drive, and that council was thankful for the federal and provincial contributions.

Councillor Jim Locke pointed out the approval in this case is just for Jackman Drive, “in case any of the residents on Olympic Drive may have misheard, so I just want clarity on that.” Locke noted there was a separate funding application submitted for Olympic Drive, which has not yet been approved.

Aker agreed that is the case and asked Director of Infrastructure and Public Works Gerard Antle for further clarification.

The director said Locke was correct, but upgrades to Olympic Drive are under consideration. The City’s funding request for Olympic Drive, which was submitted last year at the same time as the one for Jackman, is valued at $5.1 million.

The third application the City submitted last year, under the Community, Culture and Recreation Program, is for a new Community Centre at Team Gushue Recreation Complex valued at $5 million.

Pearson Community Centre to get new shingles because of 'Larry'

By Mark Squibb/November 11, 2021

The City will have to pony up over $11,000 to fix a roof that was damaged earlier this fall by Hurricane Larry.

Councilor Mark Rice explained during last week’s meeting that the September hurricane damaged the Gloria Pearson Community Centre, ripping some 100 shingles from the south facing roof.

Rice said that while staff have reported there have been no leaks as a result of the damage, the roof will still need to be re-shingled before winter hits.

Of the six qualifying bids received, Roof Medic provided the lowest qualifying bid, valued at $11,327, HST included.

Councilor Jim Locke said he supported the work that needs to be done but posed a question to council and city staff.

“If we’re doing a roof replacement, rather than go back to traditional asphalt shingles, in our deliberations do we look at the cost effectiveness of a steel roof?” he asked. “These steel roofs seem to be becoming more popular. I know they’re a little more upfront, but they tend to have, I think, a longer warranty and probably a higher durability. So, I don’t need an answer right now, but I’ll just throw it out there; as we proceed and are looking at our infrastructure replacements and infrastructure upgrades, I would suggest that we, and it may be too expensive, but I’m just throwing it out there for our committee to take it under advisement when they’re assessing this. But I certainly support this motion here.”

After no further discussion, the motion passed unanimously.

O'Donel student stands out at Tely 10

By Mark Squibb/November 11, 2021

The fastest youth to run this year’s Tely 10 calls Mount Pearl home.

Brady Lawlor, a grade 11 student at O’Donel High, completed the ten-mile run with an official time of 1:01:27. He placed 1st in the U19 division, and 39th overall.

“I was half passing out, half excited,” said Lawlor of crossing the finish line on race day.

He said he honestly wasn’t expecting to place so well, so the news was a pleasant surprise.

This year’s Tely 10, which was held on October 31 rather than in July due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was Lawlor’s first foray in the storied event.

The 16-year-old began running when he was 11. He started off, as most runners do, with shorter runs, such as the Mundy Pond 5 KM. He joined the Pearlgate Track and Field Club, developed his skills, and from there bumped his distances up to 8 kms, and then 10 kms.

He ran his first race with his dad, Sean, and the two would often run together from then on out.

“I used to do them a lot with my dad. Back then he could keep up with me, and now he can’t so he lets me run alone,” he joked.

With his distances increasing year over year, Lawlor soon set his sights on the 16-kilometre Tely 10.

Lawlor didn’t begin his running career running ten-mile races, as already explained. He recommends that anybody interested in giving running a try start out slow, tackling short distances at a speed they’re comfortable with.

He himself prefers running with friends as opposed to running alone, and suggested that those new to the sport might enjoy running with a group of friends as opposed to going it alone.

“I like that really anybody can do it,” said Lawlor of the sport. “And you don’t need much, just a pair of shoes, and you can do it anywhere.”

Change orders pile up as contractors iron out wrinkles on Topsail Road project

By Mark Squibb/November 4, 2021

The last meeting of Mount Pearl council brought the number of change orders for the Topsail Road Storm Sewer and Outfall Upgrading project up to eight.

The first seven change orders came in the meeting prior, held on October 12.

In that meeting, council approved seven change orders totalling $63,631. The most expensive of those was the purchase of new material, including curb and gutter, sidewalk and asphalt, at a cost of $21,344. It also included the removal and reinstatement of the driveway at number 907 Topsail Road because of construction impact at a cost of $16,804.

The change order approved during the October 26 meeting was the removal and reinstatement of a four-foot-high fence at 897 Topsail Road.

“The removal was required to accommodate the new storm outfall which ran right by that fence, so we had no choice but to take it down and put it back,” said councilor Mark Rice, who noted the existing budget did accommodate for the change order.

Total cost of change order number eight was $4,496, HST included.

Mayor Dave Aker said the change order was fairly routine, but unfortunate.

The original tender closed on May 31, 2021, and a total of six bids were received. The contract was awarded to Dexter Construction Ltd on July 27, 2021, at a bid price of $861,754, HST included.

Both addresses are near the Farrell Drive intersection.

In addition to the eight change orders, a change order was issued to CBCL, in the amount of $24,472 (HST included) for contract administration and record drawings related to the project, at a meeting back in August.

Councillor Isabelle Fry noted the roadwork is complete, and the entire project was expected to be finished by the end of October.

'Smart technology' part of playgrounds upgrades

By Mark Squibb/November 4, 2021

Those excited for upgrades to St. Anne’s playground (as councilor Isabelle Fry said members of council certainly are) will be glad to hear that work is expected to start soon.

Fry informed council during the October 26 public meeting that site work is expected to start this month, though playground equipment and rubberized surfaces are not expected until next year, 2022.

The upgrades were announced in August and include the introduction of smart technology, improved lighting, and the addition of two new gender-neutral washrooms. The playground will be built using an accessible rubber surface, which features elevated platforms accessible by a transfer station. There will be two play structures and a Biba Smart Park Add-on, in which kids can play augmented reality games. The add-on also tracks data such as peak hours, days of usage, weather impacts, and equipment condition.

The total cost is estimated to be $963,695, less tax rebates. The city will be paying about $661,400, while the provincial and federal governments will borrow roughly $150,100 each.

Change orders pile up as contractors iron out wrinkles on Topsail Road project

By Mark Squibb/November 4, 2021

The last meeting of Mount Pearl council brought the number of change orders for the Topsail Road Storm Sewer and Outfall Upgrading project up to eight.

The first seven change orders came in the meeting prior, held on October 12.

In that meeting, council approved seven change orders totalling $63,631. The most expensive of those was the purchase of new material, including curb and gutter, sidewalk and asphalt, at a cost of $21,344. It also included the removal and reinstatement of the driveway at number 907 Topsail Road because of construction impact at a cost of $16,804.

The change order approved during the October 26 meeting was the removal and reinstatement of a four-foot-high fence at 897 Topsail Road.

“The removal was required to accommodate the new storm outfall which ran right by that fence, so we had no choice but to take it down and put it back,” said councilor Mark Rice, who noted the existing budget did accommodate for the change order.

Total cost of change order number eight was $4,496, HST included.

Mayor Dave Aker said the change order was fairly routine, but unfortunate.

The original tender closed on May 31, 2021, and a total of six bids were received. The contract was awarded to Dexter Construction Ltd on July 27, 2021, at a bid price of $861,754, HST included.

Both addresses are near the Farrell Drive intersection.

In addition to the eight change orders, a change order was issued to CBCL, in the amount of $24,472 (HST included) for contract administration and record drawings related to the project, at a meeting back in August.

Councillor Isabelle Fry noted the roadwork is complete, and the entire project was expected to be finished by the end of October.