File Photo/Residents of a two-block area along Amherst Avenue have been dealing with no parking and damage to their homes as a result of a road reconstruction project.
Lawsuit for faulty road construction project settled by contractror’s insurance carrier
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
MARGATE – The Board of Commissioners Oct. 19 introduced its second round of capital financing bonds this year appropriating $7.65 million for its 2023 capital improvement program. The ordinances come on the heels of two other bond ordinances approved in March for $1.42 million.
Bond Ordinance 12-2023 totaling $6 million will fund various general capital improvement projects as follows:
- $2,746,000 to construct a new Public Works building, including sidewalks, curbs and street paving, on the 300- and 400-blocks of Thurlow Avenue, and to purchase a new street sweeper.
- $1,767,000 for various road improvement projects, including Winchester Avenue between Clermont and Douglas avenues, Fremont Avenue between Fredericksburg and Clarendon avenues, and Bayshore Avenue between Fredericksburg and Barclay avenues. Also, design work for the Washington Avenue streetscape improvement program, and Round 1 of citywide dredging. The city has been awarded several state grants to partially fund the road projects.
- $918,500 for the Fire Department to purchase a new fire engine, emergency generator for Fire Station #2 and turnout gear.
- $201,500 for the Police Department to purchase two patrol vehicles, five license plate readers, a Draeger Alcotest reader and various equipment.
- $325,000 for Phase 2 of the city’s LED street lighting improvement project.
- $42,000 for the Beach Patrol to purchase a new truck and related equipment.
Ordinance 13-2023 will fund $1,650,000 for utility capital improvements as follows:
- $1,319,000 for water and sewer improvements undertaken for the above mentioned road reconstruction projects.
- $180,000 for the redevelopment of Well #9.
- $155,000 for the Public Works Department to purchase a Ford-150 and Ford 250 with utility body and plow.
The general capital bonds can be repaid over 15 years, while the utility bonds are for 40 years.
Public hearings on the ordinances will be held 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2 at Historic City Hall, 1 S. Washington Ave.
The city will also offer its outstanding notes and bonds for permanent financing at an online auction being held on Oct. 26. The city maintains a Standard & Poors rating of AA+.
In other business, solicitor John Scott Abbott reported that a lawsuit filed by residents against the city, its engineer and contractor for a road project that caused damage to two homes on Amherst Avenue was settled during mediation before it went to trial.
Abbott said Travelers Property and Casualty Co. of America, the insurance company representing Mathis Construction Co., Inc., the contractor that did the work, settled the case brought by residents Donna and Warren Tasca and Keven and Barbara McHugh for about $600,000.
“We don’t pay anything,” Abbott said.
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