NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Airport Commission is unsatisfied with the delayed completion of Phase 2 of the airport's ramp.

 

Gale Associates representative Nick Ippolito told the commission last week that Phase 2 is largely complete except a few signs that need to be installed. He said they will have the signs by November.

 

Commissioner Trevor Gilman said the original date of completion was supposed to be Oct. 13 and the commission said the contractor, ET&L, could combine phases 1 and 2 of the project after promising to accelerate the entire project 25 days.

 

Gilman said he felt the contractor just wasted this time.

 

"I know they are small items and I know they do not impact the airport but it's just one more thing that has not been followed through on their part-time frame wise," Gilman said. "We have nothing but this end date to hold them to to make sure they get it done." 

 

Chairman Jeff Naughton suggested holding the final payment until everything is completed.

 

Ippolito said work was mostly complete by September and there was little impact that would represent damages. He added that the signs came in as a change order and that will always delay completion.

 

He did say if the commission felt there were damages it can pursue the contractor.

 

"If there are impacts that you have borne based on that work taking place after the contractor kind of vacated the site, I can talk to my bosses about liquidated damages if you would like me to," he said.

 

The commission agreed to hold off on making any decision until the project is complete and can be evaluate. 

 

"I don't want to be all doom and gloom because the project looks fantastic," Gilman said. "The airport looks better than any airport in the state right now but every project we do we want it done right."

 

Local pilot Mike Milazzo also brought up a concern about a 3-inch-deep puddle that continues to form on the apron. 

 

"For the money that the city spent on the thing with all of the engineers we had on site, one would assume we would have water flowing where it should," he said.

 

Ippolito said he knows the area and said the dozer had difficulties with that spot because it changes grades.

 

He said he brought it to the contractor's attention when he noticed a bump and there was an attempt to smoothen it out. He said too much must have taken away.

 

Ippolito said he will evaluate the spot and see what corrective actions can take place.

 

He said they might have to cut it out, regrade and repave the spot.