CAPE MAY – At its Aug. 15 meeting,Cape May City Council authorized Cape May County to proceed with the award of the Franklin Street School construction contract to the lowest bidder. The county, the city and the county library commission have partnered in a project to repurpose the historic school as a branch of the county library system.
By taking this action, the city confirmed that it will bear one-third of the construction costs after all grant funds have been applied. As has happened in many construction projects impacted by the high national inflation rate, the bids have come in significantly higher than the original construction estimates. Early estimates placed the project at just over $6 million, but the lowest bid on the project now stands at $9.1 million.
Mayor Zack Mullock told the assembled public at the meeting that with existing grants the city will not have to spend more than the $2.3 million total.That’s the totalagreed to in the shared services agreement between the city, the county and the library commission.
Deputy Mayor Stacy Sheehan voted no on the resolution, arguing that the higher price should lead to a reconsideration of some design choices including a planned addition to the building.
She pointed to the fact that the city had hoped it would not have to pay the full $2.3 million authorized in the services agreement because of potential grants. Now with the higher construction price that seems less likely.
Mullock said the city’s not-to-exceed commitment to the project remains at $2.3 million. He added that he would push to get construction started as soon as possible after the award is made.
The resolution passed on a 4 to 1 vote.
