Point Beach Awards Boardwalk Contract

Point Beach Council on Tuesday night awarded a $870,067 contract to Wallace Brothers to replace the plaza section of the boardwalk with a new Trex boardwalk, the same material used to rebuild the other sections.

Unlike the north and south ends of the boardwalk, this part of the center section was not significantly damaged by Superstorm Sandy. So while the town is receiving some FEMA reimbursement for rebuilding other sections of boardwalk, it will not be eligible for FEMA funds for the plaza section.

The town had concentrated on first fixing the sections of boardwalk that had been completely knocked down or damaged so badly they were not safe for walking, so that the boardwalk would be ready for the summer season.

By Memorial Day weekend, residents and visitors alike had an intact boardwalk from end to end, but there was always a plan to go out to bid for the plaza section in the fall. There had not been enough time to also get the plaza section done by the start of summer, officials had said at the time.

The meeting agenda had called for council to award a contract of $786,162 to Jamali Brothers, but after further consideration, council decided Jamali was not fully "responsive and responsible" in complying with all bid specs because it was not providing a list of electrical subcontractors, said Point Beach Municipal Clerk Maryann Ellsworth, just after the council meeting where there was some discussion about it.

In light of Jamali not fully complying, the town is is "waiving a minor defect" in the Wallace bid and choosing them, said Municipal Attorney Sean Gertner during the meeting.

It's expected Wallace will begin work soon and finish sometime in March, Ellsworth said.

In response to a resident's question, Mayor Vincent Barrella said Jenkinson's has paid $50,000 towards the boardwalk plaza reconstruction and has agreed to pay that much per year for 20 years up to a maximum of $1 million.