Brookhaven engineering firm tapped for repair work at City Hall

The City Council approved a $56,000 contract with an architecture and engineering firm on Tuesday to move forward with repair work at City Hall, after council members inquired about the extent of the work and a request for proposal that ultimately landed the Brookhaven-based company the job.

The council voted 4-1 at its July 17 meeting to approve a resolution authorizing City Manager Jack Schnirman to enter into a contract with L.K. McLean and Associates, P.C.

“This is for work on City Hall — to ultimately remove the scaffolding that you see and to make City Hall safer,” Schnirman said, adding that the work is included in the city’s recently approved capital improvement plan.

On July 5, the council approved a $5.6 million bond — $4.4 million of which will be borrowed — for projects that include the reconstruction and resurfacing of roads and buildings, improvements to parks and recreation facilities as well as the sewer and water systems, and purchases of machinery and equipment.

In addition to the replacement of a wall-like barrier, or parapet wall, that surrounds City Hall, the work includes the refurbishment of the building’s lobby, as well as an exercise room and air filtration system at the Rec Center and its pool. The plan sets aside $1.2 million for work on the water and sewer systems, including renovations of the water tower.

L.K. McLean and Associates will develop design specifications for the rehabilitation of the parapet wall that is starting to separate from the building, part of the reason for the scaffolding currently in place. The work also includes the removal of the brick façade around the cooling tower and construction of a protective steel structure around the tower.

“They will prepare bid specifications, they will review all the bids on behalf of the city, make their recommendations and then we’ll be able to commence work,” said Public Works Commissioner Jim LaCarrubba.