Gavan Contracting gets contract for restrooms

EATONTOWN — Contracts for new restrooms in a borough park and the purchase of garbage cans created some controversy.

Gavan General Contracting, Lakewood, which was removed from a job at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Freehold Township, won the contract for the new restrooms at Wolcott Park.

The contract went to Gavan despite Councilman Theodore F. Lewis Jr. pointing out that the company had experienced problems at the county jail.

Lewis was referring to the installation of a new tile floor in the kitchen of the jail. Gavan was awarded that contract in the summer of 1999 and given a start date in the spring of 2000. The work was supposed to be completed in 60 to 90 calendar days, but the county found the work defective and threw Gavan off the job. The county is still in litigation with the company.

During the floor work, a temporary kitchen with rented equipment was set up outside in a tent in a courtyard. The outdoor kitchen was in operation for a year instead of three months, and that created extra costs for the rented equipment, food shipped in and payroll for the additional guards overseeing the operation.

Borough Administrator Michael L. Trotta said after the meeting that Gavan had performed well for the borough on its contract for the just-completed renovations at the community center, which was dedicated eight days ago.

Trotta said he wasn’t worried about the construction of the restrooms since it was not a complicated job. He said it involves pouring a concrete footing, erecting a prefabricated building and connecting the plumbing and electricity.

Trotta also noted that the present restrooms would not be torn down until the new ones were completed so there would be no inconvenience.

Gavan was the lowest of three bidders at $78,363. The other bidders were KLM Construction, Lakewood, at $89,950, and Construction Services Group, Belle Mead, at $91,500.

The size of garbage containers to be distributed to local residents and the track record of the Gavan stirred debate before the vote was taken.

Otto Industries Inc., Charlotte, N.C., won the contract for the garbage cans, but the council left open the issue of what size would be ordered.

Trotta said the borough planned to buy 96-gallon garbage containers for most residents — a total of 3,000 of them.

Some council members expressed concern that the containers might be too big.

Trotta said a 96-gallon container can hold 310 pounds of garbage. He said the containers are on wheels so they can be rolled out to the street for pickup.

Mayor Gerald J. Tarantolo said he understood the desire for the large container so that bags of garbage wouldn’t have to be put on top of them.

Trotta said some exemptions would be made. He said the Tinton Woods development has a requirement that garbage cans be kept in the garage, but there’s not enough room in the garages for a 96-gallon container along with a car, so those residents would be given containers of a smaller size. He said seniors would also be given that option. He said these residents could choose either 63-gallon or 35-gallon garbage cans instead.

The council asked Nate Albert, head of the Department of Public Works, to bring a sample of all three sizes to its workshop meeting that was held on Wednesday.

The council awarded the contract for the garbage cans to Otto Industries, which was the lowest of three bidders on the 96-gallon size at $36.75 each.

Toter Inc., Statesville, bid second lowest on the 96-gallon size at $37.97, while Schaefer Systems International Inc., Charlotte, N.C, bid $39.30 on the 96-gallon size. Trotta said Otto had agreed to provide a second size can, in addition to the 96-gallon container, at cost.