Brownsville board member stand behind vote
While some Brownsville Area School Board members contend that the board shouldn’t have hired Michael S. Molnar Associates as the architect for its high school/middle school renovation project, others on the board still stand strongly by the move. Voting for the firm were John Evans, Jim Brown, Stella Broadwater, Andrew Dorsey and Melvin Sally. Opposing the move were directors Francine Pavone, Roseanne Markovich, Rocky Brashear and Ellen Rohrer.
Those voting for Molnar contended they had little choice because the former architect John Conzolo and Associates was facing numerous lawsuits, including one for a fire and another for a caved roof during the renovation.
Broadwater also said that she did not trust Conzolo and felt the district was misled when questioning the firm on lawsuits against the firm. She said she received a letter from Conzolo’s lawyer that angered her.
“(Conzolo’s) lawyers wrote a letter that if I continued on, he would bring a suit against me and that made me angry,” she said.
While those opposed to Molnar said they were concerned about possible cost overruns and other problems, those in support of him said they had the solicitor add 11 pages to the contract as protection for the district.
Dorsey said the additional pages protect the district more than the contract the district had with Conzolo.
“The district is protected on overruns. We set limits on spending. There are extensive clauses with specific wording to protect the district,” he said.
Molnar attended a recent meeting of the board and addressed its concerns during the end of an hour-long executive session.
Following the meeting, Molnar addressed the board and citizens. He explained recent work at Albert Gallatin saying he has the highest recommendation from that district, noting the change orders with the project totaled $40,000. He said his work with the Fayette County Prison ended up $35,000 over the approved budget.
“I can promise you that I will dedicate my time and effort to this school. I promise you I will follow-up solid…” Molnar said.
A spokeswoman for Molnar also said the firm recently sent the district five certificates of insurance showing the district that Molnar met the board’s requirements, increasing excess and professional liability to $2 million each.
“We went above and beyond (the district’s) requirements,” she said.
Broadwater noted that the district did receive a favorable recommendation from the Albert Gallatin School District where she said Molnar completed $45 million worth of projects over several years.
“A.G. said he did a wonderful job. Everything was on time and the little extra costs he absorbed himself,’ said Broadwater.
Dorsey also said he respects the way Molnar “faced the board” when questioned about issues during the executive session.
“Molnar faced the board and said he would agree to any stipulations that the board wishes and so far he has,’ said Dorsey.
Dorsey said he wanted a local firm to do the work from the beginning. “From day one, I wanted a local firm. They employ local people and they are local taxpayers,” he said. Broadwater agreed. “I think it’s going to be an asset to us to work with someone local. They are right here,” she said.
Meanwhile, other supporters of Molnar said it was time for the district to simply move on.
“I want to move on with the project. We’ve been haggling over this and it’s time to move on with it,” said Director John Evans.
“Somewhere we got to stop and move on or we are never going to go anywhere. We can’t go forward with the plan if we keep hiring and firing. Let’s get off dead center and put your personal feelings behind,’ added Jim Brown.
Molnar is hired as the district’s architect but he has not signed the contract and is expected to at the next regular meeting Thursday if he has met the board’s requirements.