Contractors Complain About Bidding Process

Two minority contractors complained they were left out of competition for a demolition cleanup on North Avenue, even though neither bid on the job.

The demolition was underway on March 21 when part of the building at 117-125 North Avenue fell onto an adjacent restaurant, crushing the roof and facade. Work was halted and now must be completed before the site can be cleared.

Contractors Rufus Thomas and Oliver Brown spoke Tuesday before the City Council voted approval of Yanuzzi Group of Kinnelon to complete the demolition at 117-125 North Avenue and remove the debris.
Brown said contracts were going out to "people who don't live in Plainfield" and asked why there was no set-aside for minorities, "especially black folk." He said he can't get a loan, but  "churches line up to put their money in a white bank."

When Council President Bridget Rivers asked whether he had bid on the contract, Brown said, "I didn't know anything about it."

Thomas said, "There are only two of us here," referring to his company, Rufus Demolition, and Brown's firm, Oveter's Construction. He spoke at length about the evolution of his company and said, "My trucks are in the parade every year," referring to the city's July 4th celebration.

Brown said he had suffered "nine bad years back to back," although in 2010 his firm was hired to carry out an emergency demolition on North Avenue, with costs that started at $21,000 but escalated to $200,000.

Brown recalled better times when "Mayor (Rick) Taylor gave us a lot of work."

Councilwoman Gloria Taylor, the late mayor's widow, weighed in with a call for "black empowerment," saying she was concerned that black contractors were not included in the current demolition process.

 Actually, a black-owned firm had the March 21 demolition contract but subcontracted with a Newark firm to do the work.

Taylor also called for a set-aside.

In other comments, retired firefighter Sheldon Green said he has been working with the owner of the building that was damaged by falling debris, but he has not been able to find out the proposed scope of work. He called the winning bid "kind of low" and alleged local contractors could not compete because people "bid low" and then the cost goes "up and up" through change orders..

The bid notice was published in local newspapers and also posted on the city web site. Specifications were prepared by the engineering firm Remington & Vernick and the bid opening was held on May 27. The bids ranged from a high of $263,100 to Yanuzzi's low bid of $75,800.

An attempt to table the resolution came into question after Corporation Counsel Vernita Sias-Hill explained aspects of the state bidding law. Taylor asked what would happen if the council voted "no," and Rivers asked whether the city could go back out for bids. As Sias-Hill continued to explain, Councilman Cory Storch asked, "Are you saying we're exposing ourselves to a lawsuit?"

Storch told Taylor, "I support your goals, but the timing isn't good on this particular project."

Councilwoman Diane Toliver said going forward the city should make sure citizens know (about bids), but she said the the demolition site needs to be cleared.

"We can't delay this," she said.

After a metal fence blocking off the site was removed, the city put up a makeshift arrangement of sawhorses and orange snow fencing to secure it. But as Toliver noted, debris was being scattered around.

The council finally voted unanimously to approve the demolition completion and debris removal resolution.

Numerous documents related to the demolition issue are posted on the city web site

--Bernice