Democrats defend contract decision

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Democrats defend contract decision

Michael Gannon, Register Staff

April 11, 2001

STRATFORD — Town Council Democrats said Tuesday their controversial decision not to award the design contract for the new firehouse-EMS complex to the low bidder was based on the merits of the winning proposal.

Antinozzi Associates of Stratford was awarded the contract for $513,150, The amount was about $234,000 higher than that of Silver Petrucelli of Hamden, the low bidder.

All six Democrats on the council voted to award the bid to Antinozzi. Three Republicans, led by Christopher Silhavey, R-8, tried unsuccessfully to table the matter for two weeks.

A motion by Silhavey to award the bid to Silver Petrucelli also failed by a 6-3 vote.

"It’s just my feeling that they are an established, reliable firm," said Raymond Voccola, D-5, of the Antinozzi bid. "I don’t always look at money. After all, you get what you pay for."

Silhavey, chairman of the town’s General Building Needs Committee, said during Monday’s meeting that Silver Petrucelli has worked on a half dozen fire or EMS projects, while Antinozzi has done none that he could find.

Susan Collier, D-1, also said the reason for the cost differences must be examined.

"Some firms add all services into a bid," Collier said. "Others charge a flat fee and charge extra for additional services. So not all three bids were comparing apples to apples."

Collier also said that Antinozzi has, in fact, worked on fire-emergency-related projects in Bridgeport in the last 10 years, of which Silhavey was unaware.

"My concerns were with Antinozzi’s relative experience as well as the price," Silhavey said following the council meeting. "This will place some severe restrictions on us as far as bonding (for the cost) is concerned."

The new building will combine the Fire Department and Stratford Emergency Medical Services in one location on Main Street property that houses Fire Headquarters and the Health Department.

The Health Department is to move to the former Birdseye School, which is undergoing renovation. EMS will vacate its current quarters in the basement of police headquarters.