Site manager to monitor school reconstruction

Not another town hall, By Fran Hardy SPARTA - In five days, Sparta residents will go to the polls for the Sept. 26 school bond referendum vote. While many residents have made firm decisions in favor of the measure based on their understanding of the school’s needs and their concern for the town’s future, others have voiced clear opposition based on their fear of increased taxes. However, there are still thoughtful, concerned residents who remain on the fence in regards to this issue due to Sparta’s recent experience with a similar large building project. The Sparta Municipal Building, which was begun in the spring of 2004 with completion planned for November of the same year, is still not completely finished. Original contractors, Horizon Contracting of Union County, fell seriously behind schedule citing weather delays, disputes over use of non-union tradesmen, and other problems, until work stopped completely. The building stood abandoned for six months while a build up of dust, debris, and mold plagued the site. New contractors, Integrated Construction Enterprises, were brought in and work has progressed, although slowly, with a completion and move-in date now imminent. Way behind schedule and over the projected budget, the new Municipal Building has created a collective public headache in Sparta. Leery of another large project brouhaha, some residents worry about a similar scenario with the high school reconstruction. Enter Bill Morris of Epic Management, Inc. The Sparta Township School Board has hired Epic, an experienced large construction management firm, to ensure that such a scenario does not occur if the school reconstruction plan moves forward. A specialist in school projects, Morris will bring years of expertise to Sparta. He has worked on new school construction or reconstruction projects in approximately 95 different school districts in New Jersey over the last nine years. Morris’s involvement would be completely hands-on from the first building permit, to the shine on the last new door knob. Generally, his job is to make sure that all elements of the project remain on schedule and within budget. Upon completion of the architect’s design documents, Morris will be involved with the contractors bidding process. He says he will make sure the winning bid includes, foremost, plans for the safety barriers and other measures necessary to separate the work in progress from the students. “Sometimes bids are accepted and construction barriers are requested after the fact. This raises costs,” he said. “Our job is to make sure all the important safety features and other necessary elements are part of the bid up-front.” Morris will staff a full-time site manager in Sparta to monitor every phase of the proposed reconstruction. He says this type of project, which involves demolishing and rebuilding one part of a building while another part is still in use, is not uncommon, and he has overseen many such projects. Morris says that with the right planning and professional execution, a project like this can go very smoothly. “Basically, we will monitor all aspects of the project . . . safety, budget, schedule, and quality of the work,” stated Morris. Epic Management and the school board have agreed they must stay within the costs proposed in the referendum. Morris added, “Overspending that budget is not an option.” School officials say they are confident Morris and Epic Management can deliver what they promise and that their expertise and excellent track record should allay public apprehension over the project.