CAPE MAY – City Council gave its approval Tuesday for three engineering firms to proceed with plans and designs for a new Convention Hall here.
Fralinger Engineering, of Bridgeton, will handle civil engineering, Klein and Hoffman, of Philadelphia will handle structural engineering and mechanical engineering including electrical and plumbing will be designed by Gillian and Hartmann, of Valley Forge, Pa.
The engineering will be overseen by the architects for the project, Kimmel Bogrette.
Architect Jon Trump of Kimmel Bogrette prepared an extensive report for City Council. He said requests for proposals were sent out in mid November to a number of engineering firms, which were pre-qualified by the city and Kimmel Bogrette.
The proposals were received by Trump in early December and Kimmel Bogrette’s recommendations were sent to the city. He said Klein and Hoffman have solid experience in waterfront construction.
Trump said eight companies responded with proposals for civil engineering, four structural engineering firms responded and four mechanical engineering firms replied. He said Kimmel Bogrette has worked on other projects with the three chosen engineering firms.
The contracts with the three engineers total $201,150, said City Manager Bruce MacLeod.
“We are ready to get all those people underway,” said Trump.
He said Fralinger Engineering was anxious to get started seeking state and Department of Environmental Protection CAFRA permits, geotechnical work and surveying.
Trump said it was advantageous to have all the engineering contracts “under one umbrella,” of Kimmel Bogrette. He said he would deal with day-to-day issues as they arise.
Councilwoman Terri Swain said the chosen engineers had suitable experience to handle a project on the beach.
Mayor Edward J. Mahaney Jr. said the city maintains control over the Convention Hall project. He said having separate firms for civil, structural and mechanical engineering would provide more on site review of the project as opposed to having one firm that has all three aspects.
Mahaney said Gillian and Hartman had extensive geothermal experience, which may be a potential energy source for heating and cooling the building. Trump said a determination if a geothermal energy system can be used will be made early in the project examining the cost benefits.
MacLeod said the city received notification from the state Board of Public Utilities that the city was approved for a solar energy rebate of $101,00 for the Convention Hall project.
At Tuesday’s meeting, City Council terminated the services of engineers Remington Vernick. That firm brought Kimmel Bogrette to the city as the recommended architect for the Convention Hall project.
City Solicitor Tony Monzo said the city terminated its contracts with Remington Vernick, in part, because previous contracts with the firm not authorized by council. The termination included two U.S.D.A. contracts, one for storm water infiltration prevention in sanitary sewers and the construction of a new water tower on Madison Avenue.
Remington Vernick was the engineering firm for the Washington Street Mall reconstruction last year.
Council authorized placing an advertisement seeking a new firm to act as engineers for the city.
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