Commissioners OK law firms for energy audit work
The Fayette County commissioners on Thursday approved two separate Pittsburgh law firms for different duties regarding an energy savings project being undertaken to make county buildings more energy efficient.
While the commissioners were initially set to approve the same firm for both the roles of bond counsel and underwriter counsel, they decided to separate the contracts on the advice of solicitor Joseph E. Ferens Jr. Ferens suggested that two different firms handle the two responsibilities in the event there is a conflict.
The energy savings project is being undertaken through Constellation Energy of Pittsburgh.
The commissioners voted to approve a contract with Eckerd Seamans Cherin and Mellot LLC as bond counsel at a cost of $13,000, plus extra expenses of $2,000 and $500, if needed. The commissioners then voted to enter into an agreement with Thorp Reed and Armstrong LLP for $11,000 for underwriter counsel.
The decision to separate the contracts meant an extra cost of about $6,000.
Before Ferens suggested separating the two, Commissioner Vincent A. Vicites had wanted to use Eckerd Seamans, which had submitted a bid of $5,000 for underwriter counsel.
The three other firms — Dinsmore and Shohl, Pepper Hamilton and Buchanan Ingersoll and Rooney PC — submitted higher bids.
County manager Warren Hughes previously said the county would pay off the $2.3 million bond in 15 years using the utility savings. The savings are guaranteed.
The program includes upgrading the courthouse boiler system, windows and air units. There also will be changes to the lighting system, but the biggest change is the boiler system, which was last upgraded in the 1960s.
While the two motions were approved unanimously, prior motions entering into agreements with Zelenkofske and Axelrod LLC of Harrisburg to perform audits on grants received from the National Road Heritage Corridor and for the Fayette County Prison for $4,000 and $7,500, respectively, were approved by 2-1 votes.
Vicites and commission Chairman Vincent Zapotosky voted in favor of them and Commissioner Angela M. Zimmerlink voted against them.
Zimmerlink said she thought the county should try to get the best price instead of just going with Zelenkofske and Axelrod. Vicites said he didn’t agree, adding that if any money were saved, it wouldn’t be a significant amount.
Controller Sean P. Lally said the company is knowledgeable about the county and the prison, and is doing the single audit for the county.