The long-awaited completion of a town-approved plan to rehabilitate the commercial fishing dock on Star Island in Montauk, which has been beset by delays and add-on costs, took a step forward last week as the East Hampton Town Board voted to amend two contracts and send additional funds to the engineering firm L.K. McLean Associates and to the marine contractor Keith Grimes Inc.
“Due to delays in the contractor’s completion of the work, and an incomplete construction schedule, it is anticipated that the construction work will take another four months to complete, which exceeds the originally estimated time, necessitating additional inspection and administration services,” the board noted. It agreed to send an additional $43,200 to L.K. McLean to perform those services, on top of the $190,100 previously contracted.
Last year the town awarded the dock rehabilitation contract to the Montauk-based low bidder Keith Grimes, and tapped $393,185.78 in federal American Rescue Plan funding for the project. The town had hoped for further funding through the Federal Emergency Management Administration and the New York State Division of Homeland Security, but was recently informed that that grant will not come through.
One unspecified change order proposed by both the contractor and engineer will increase the project cost by $77,004; the town board approved of using American Rescue Plan funds for that. The engineers also reviewed a proposed change order from Keith Grimes, for debris removal from the bottom, and recommended its acceptance, adding another $33,804 to the contract with Grimes. It now stands at $1,606,552.10.
