City hires contractor to replace Sandy-damaged trees

The city hired a landscaping firm on March 24 to begin the process of planting 2,700 trees throughout the city by June.

Courtesy City of Long Beach

The city has entered into a $1.39 million contract with an architectural and landscaping firm to replace thousands of Hurricane Sandy-damaged trees throughout Long Beach that were removed last year.

The City Council unanimously approved a contract with Holbrook-based Louis Barbato Landscaping, the lowest responsible bidder on the project, at a special meeting on March 24. But several residents questioned the hiring, especially after the city terminated a contract with the company last year because, city officials said, Barbato failed to complete on time a project to rebuild a local park that was destroyed by Sandy.

In February, the city unveiled its Master Tree Replanting Plan to restore the aesthetic of tree-lined streets. Close to 2,400 trees that were dead or substantially damaged were removed after the storm. The plan calls for 2,700 new trees to be planted, representing a greater variety of species than before — a total of 52 species, officials said, including American elm and red maple.

Barbato began the work last week, and excavation has already been completed on most of Beech and Penn streets, as crews prepare the ground for the new trees, officials said.

But some residents questioned whether the company was up to the task. Last year, the council passed a resolution stating that Barbato was in breach of a $333,000 contract after the company failed to complete the reconstruction of the Georgia Avenue Playground by May 30.

Rob Agostisi, the city’s corporation counsel, said that the resolution also prohibited Barbato from bidding on future projects in Long Beach. However, in order to avoid potential litigation — Barbato had spent money on equipment for the job, officials said, while the city was forced to seek another firm to rebuild the playground, delaying the project even further — Agostisi said that both parties reached an agreement, which allowed Barbato bid on city projects.

“The settlement agreement is what permits this resolution, which vacates the prior resolution declaring Barbato in breach,” Agostisi said.