\ " * ! • Herald & Lantern 10 October '84 35

96th St. Bridge 'Snagged'-

^ $ ( From Page 1 ) ty bridge, but a DOT job, paid for with 80 m percent federal money, 20 percent state. "THE CONTRACT is between DOT and the (general) contractor," Bob Hovick, DOT'S resident engineer, told the Herald. Translation: the state will decide. Apparently bubbling for months, the controversy finally boiled to the surface last week when Lichtenstein came to the freeholders' caucus to give a "progress report." The Herald had reported Sept. 26 that the contractor had 80 percent of his work left to do in 50 percent of his time and some doubted the deadline could be met. Lichtenstein named a number of things that were going well: pre -stressed concrete beams in Delaware that will be barged in as needed, structural steel, machinery. But, oh yes, there was one problem: Square D reiusei to supply the circuitry system Lichtenstein designed, reportedly with a hired med^anical engineer. "SQUARE D doesn't have confidence in our system," said Lichtenstein. "I think money may be at the root of all this evil. Chances are what they want is at a lesser price. But I'm speculating, I don't want to create any unnecessary rumors. "I see a delay on the electrical for some time," he added. "What we can do if the bridge is finished, but not the electrical, * we could postpone ( the electrical ) until October (1985)* and shut down for maybe a month. "No! No!" wailed Freeholder Ralph Evans, pounding the desk. He lives in Stone Harbor, 10 miles further from everyplace while the bridge is shut, and takes the brunt of complaints about the impact of the main route into that tourist town being closed. "I'm just telling you this is iffy," said Lichtenstein. "I'm a cautious guy. If he won't do it our way, we will have to tell him, you do it,* but it's your responsibility. We're not going to object, but we're not going to approve." "DOESN'T THIS contract have a penalty clause (for failing to complete by April 19)?" asked Freeholder Gerald M. Thornton. "Yes," said Lichtenstein, "$2,500 a day." "Since when does a contractor change the specifications?" asked Thornton. "We'll go to court is he doesn't meet 'em." "I agree with you," said Lichtenstein. "but that won't open the bridge in time. You" can go to court and get your $2,500 a day, but how will that open the bridge in time?"

"This man has had these specs for two years, the contract for a year." said Evans. "Why didn't we find out until no#? This is ridiculous." ACTUALLY. Lichtenstein said, his firm heard about Square D's objection in a meeting a month ago. And Rise America President Jack Holodack told the Herald that Square D had sent engineers from its Souti. Carolina plant to examine the site and make its case. "You were hired to design the bridge," Freeholder William E. Sturm Jr. told Lichtenstein. "We approved. You wrote the specs. That's what we said we're going to have and that's what we're going to have." "Fine," said Lichtenstein, who then asked DOT'S Hovick if he wanted to add anything. "I WAS TOLD by our head of electrical design that their first choice is to build as planned," said .Hovick. "we can change any design deficiencies by change order if there needs to be a change. If Square D won't supply, then let the (prime) contractor get another sapplier. We are really upset with Raymond. "This is a long lead item," be added. "It's a very difficult situation." "There is a long lead time," Holodack told the Herald, "but one alternative, if the state acts in a reasonable amount of time, would permit the contract to be met at no : additional cost and be an improvement in the value of the equipment being offered." "What Square D is proposing might not last as long," Lichtenstein told the freeholders, "and you'll be stuck with the maintenance. I've hired another electrical engineer to find out if this system has a flaw." HOLODACK TOLD the Herald that Square D felt the design lacked additional circuiters and, as a result, two motors were "fighting each other instead of acting in concert." . "It would have been easy enough for them to supply according to the specs," said Holodack. "They're just trying to do the right thing. They've refused to supply something that knowingly will not work. And I am trying to act as a catalyst to get some consideration for the problem." "If we feel the design isn't proper," said Hovick, "we'll tell the contractor to modify." "We're planning to cut the ribbon on April 20," Thornton told Lichtenstein. "Or a rope, to hang the engineer from the bridge," said Sturm. "There's no extradition from Brazil," said Lichtenstein, "and I have a ticket." "Make sure you have an extra room for me," said Evans. •

Oomj Ward FOR ST. JUDE — Youngsters take off on the "Wheels of Life" bike-a-thon in Rio Grande Saturday. Sponsors will pay them pledged amounts per mile, with all proceeds going to St. Jude Hospital.

County Will Pare Court Cafeteria

i From Page 1 ) HAEFNER POINTED OUT the Middle chamber had backed the freeholders a year ago when they were under fire from the county bar association for preferring to expand court facilities at their present location rather than construct a new building at Crest Haven. The chamber, in a resolution last September, pointed out that people working at the court house and having business at the court house supported businesses in the community. "A good part of thAt business is food business," said Haefner, naming Hugit's, •the Bellevue Tavern, Pizza Box, the Middle Diner, McDonald's, the cafeteria at the Murphy Mart, another pizza parlor under construction, and his own Mr. Donut. THE COURT HOUSE expansion, based A on Howell's feasibility study on what will be needed by the year 2010, currently carries a $6-million price tag. A year ago, the estimate was $4.2-5 million. It will be a three-story', M-shaped addition to the rear of the U-shaped court house and will connect to the Cape May County Savings & Loan building the county bought last year. Hie feasibility study found the courts, with about 30,000 square feet of existing space, will need another 50 percent, or 15,000 square feet. IT FOUND ALL sorts of problems to do with space and security. Pointing out that judges have experienced a 37.6 percent increase in cases since I960, it said the current three courtrooms should be increased to four now and to seven by the year 2010, plus five hearing rooms for nonjury cases. It also suggested that "additional lands in the blocks bounded by Route 9,

Mechanic Street, Boyd Street and Romney Place be added to the official map for the county to be purchased in future years to meet future parking requirements." Kilpatrick said that could happen "if it becomes available," but "we wouldn't want to be going in and displacing residents." THE FEASIBILITY study made these observations about the current courtrelated facilities: • Not arranged in such a way as to allow , the court to function with the proper efficiency and security • Prosecutor has "...a serious lack of confidentiality, file storage, laboratory facihties, and evidence storage." • "The dark and out of the way location of the( juvenile intake) area certainly cannot make the cheats think they are important in the eyes of the county." •SOME DEPARTMENTS are "split and remotely located" and "this cannot add to the efficiency of the department, and can only reduce the morale and initiative of the staff and supervisors. " • With departments divided, "it is virtually impossible for a supervisor or department head to provide the guidance or assistance required to operate that department." Because of lack of security, the study said, "As one walks through the facility, there is no distinction between juror, witness, attorney, defendant, or judge The halls were crowded and little space if any was offered for such a routine occurence as an attorney meeting with his client in a private setting." With new "controlled access." the study pointed out, "The judges will face the public for the first time inside the building when the court attendant announces All Rise!' and the judge enters "

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