Work will be delayed at Butterfield site

By Holly Crocco

Putnam County is faced with a setback in the construction of a senior center at the Butterfield site in Cold Spring because the bids for the work came in much higher than expected.

Last year the Legislature approved an $800,000 bond referendum for the initial costs of retrofitting space inside the Lahey Pavilion at the former hospital site. It plans to lease 6,000 square feet from the developer for 15 years at a cost of about $4.5 million, including rent, taxes, common charges and costs.

Crews repaved the parking lot behind the Lahey Pavilion on Nov. 7. (File photo by Michael Turton)

Barbara Scuccimarra (R-Philipstown) said at the Nov. 22 Physical Services Committee meeting that the county received three bids to complete construction for the senior center, and that the lowest was $1.8 million.

She said the county would re-bid the project. That will delay progress at least 30 days, she said, although the center is still expected to open in the spring.

“When the price comes in high, what else can you do but look at the scope again and re-bid, or change the direction of the project?” she asked.

The county’s Highways & Facilities Department completed the demolition work in the Lahey space, which Scuccimarra said may help reduce bids. She noted that construction at other projects in the eastern part of the county, such as at Tilly Foster Farm in Brewster and the Putnam County Golf Course in Mahopac, was done by county employees to reduce costs, and asked why this can’t be done at Butterfield.

The Lahey Pavilion, in foreground (File photo by Michael Turton)

“I would like to see the county do more,” she said.

John Tully, deputy commissioner of Highways & Facilities, said the county was reviewing the project plans to see if any areas were overdesigned; the second look may also reduce incoming bids.

He added that location may add costs if the county sends workers to Cold Spring. “Tilly Foster was easy because all of our guys report to this side of the county; it’s in our backyard,” he said. “It’s a little remote over there.”

Behind The Story

Type: News

News: Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

Crocco is a freelance journalist who contributes coverage of the Putnam County legislature. Location: Carmel. Languages: English. Area of expertise: Putnam County politics

2 replies on “Senior Center Bids Higher Than Expected”

  1. While reading this article, I was stunned to read that John Tully, the deputy commissioner of Putnam County Highways & Facilities thinks that sending Putnam County workers to Cold Spring to work on the planned Senior Center may add costs because “it’s a little remote over there.”

    Sir, we are Putnam County taxpayers whose citizens and businesses generate money for the county government. We are entitled to the same services as any area of Putnam County. This project is for our seniors, who have paid into the system for the longest time and have been waiting many years for this center, first promised with a subsidy from Roger Ailes, which the Putnam County Legislature was all for until he was accused of sexual misconduct and the details of the “deal” was uncovered. (See https://highlandscurrent.org/2016/07/22/putnam-makes-revisions-ailes-senior-center-deal/. I suggest you send them over and get to work.

  2. I’m shocked with the comment by Tully. We are the lost part of the county and no matter what, the workers work for the county and we are included. Many construction workers work far from home to put bread on the table and they are no different. We deserve our center and it’s been a long time coming with many seniors out there fighting for this center for years, including me, for the past 16 or so years. Since the first drawing of the center until now, a lot has been taken away. I understand the money part but enough has been taken. The bids that came in were outrageous. For heaven’s sake, the building is there and all needed is the interior finished. Let’s get this project moving in the right direction.

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