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Kincardine decides no architect needed to assess municipal buildings By Liz Dadson |
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Kincardine council has decided it doesn't need an architect to assess the condition of the Kincardine Arts Centre, the Whitney Crawford Community Centre in Tiverton, and the annex building across from the arts centre. In a report to council in committee-of-the whole last night (Jan. 25), recreation director Karen Kieffer presented the terms of reference for the Request for Proposal (RFP) to hire an architect who would complete design feasibility studies and condition reports on the three facilities. The terms of reference included the annex building, even tough council has, in the past, considered selling off that structure, said Kieffer. Councillor Jacqueline Faubert asked whether the architectural firm could provide an evaluation of the annex for market. "Before we spend the $10,000 to have it assessed, do we want to sell the annex?" asked acting chief administrative officer/clerk Donna MacDougall. "Perhaps we should have the new chief administrative officer (CAO) on the committee," said deputy mayor Anne Eadie. "He'll be here by then." [New CAO Murray Clarke starts work in Kincardine Feb. 6 and the RFP deadline is Feb. 14.] Councillor Kenneth Craig, policy chairman for recreation, said the architect could do this work and once he/she is finished, the new CAO would be involved in the actual project work. "If we include the annex at this point, we would have a better idea of what we could sell it for," said Eadie. "I agree," said councillor Ron Coristine. "Let's find out the value of it and go from there." Mayor Larry Kraemer said the annex was declared surplus six or seven years ago and nothing has been done with it since. Two-thirds of the building is virtually inaccessible except by a steep staircase, he added. Kieffer recommended the RFP evaluation and interview committee consist of Craig and herself, along with chief building official Michele Barr, and one other member of council. It was agreed to have councillor Mike Leggett join this committee. At the Jan. 11 meeting, council had agreed to hire an architect to do this work, at an estimated cost of $10,000 per building, with the money coming from reserve funds. Last night, Craig asked if the committee could "beat the bushes" to find someone who could do the work cheaper than an architect. "Does the advertisement have to say 'architect'?" asked councillor Maureen Couture, "or could it say 'interested people with building expertise'?" "We're looking for a volume discount so maybe we could get the work done for $10,000, rather than $30,000," said Craig. MacDougall said that the $30,000 price tag means a formal RFP process must be completed, whereas a $10,000 cost can be done through an informal quotation process. Craig said council is not looking for architectural drawings at this point, but merely structural advice - for example, whether to fix up the kitchen and washrooms at the community centre in Tiverton or replace them.
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"I thought we were going through a process similar to a house
inspection before you buy a house," said Faubert. "Do we need new
wiring? What else needs to be done? Not architectural drawings, so we
don't need an architect." "If we got a contractor, we could leave it up to him or her to involve experts to check certain things, provided they have the qualifications," said Eadie. "Then if we decide to keep the annex, we would have to look at such things as changing walls and installing an elevator. Then we would need an architect." Leggett asked why council was fumbling its way through this. "We have companies in Kincardine who do building design. Why not ask them: how much will it cost for you to tell us how much it will cost us to do it (repairs)? Without going through all this." Council agreed to remove the word "architect" from the RFP and use "qualified interested individual" instead. "Can we do it locally and at a more economic price?" asked Leggett. MacDougall said the "best buy" RFP process is for items under $5,000. At that cost, the committee can get the information from wherever it wants, she said. "Be careful of the criteria (for the RFP)," said councillor Candy Hewitt. "Find a good way to get this off the ground." Couture said council should post the RFP on the municipality's website and give it a widespread coverage, so experts are coming to the municipality with information. Council agreed to post on the municipal website the RFP for interested people to assess the Kincardine Arts Centre, the annex and the community centre in Tiverton, providing a condition assessment and options; and that a committee will asses the person, following the criteria as outlined in the terms of reference. "It's akin to a building inspection only on a larger building," said Faubert. "We want to be clear on what it will cost to make that annex accessible." Scrolling stops when you move your mouse inside the scroll area. You can click on the ads for more
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