C.J. Fucci Fights Town, Loses

It looks like Waterford is getting what it paid for.

In December, the school building committee awarded a for site work involved in the Waterford High School Renovation. The bid was $700,000 lower than the next-closest bidder, and approximately $1.1 million less than the amount originally budgeted.

Now, there appears to be issues with the New Haven company. Fucci was caught doing something wrong, refused to fix it, and demanded the town give it more money, according to project manager Gus Kotait of O & G Industries and written correspondence from the company.

“We thought they would be a cooperative group to work with,” Town Planner Tom Wagner said. “We learned our lesson.”

What Exactly Happened

On April 17, Wagner inspected the job and noticed Fucci had not adequately protected a wetland while installing a storm water basin. The danger is that sediment can rush into the wetland and ruin it, Kotait said.

The work is part of the geothermal wells that will eventually heat and cool the school, officials said.

“It was a drainage issue,” Kotait said.

Kotait and Wagner asked Fucci to fix the problem before continuing work in the area. Fucci project manager Gary Morrissey refused, saying the town is asking for more than is expected and therefore must pay more than expected.

The demand is clearly written in the bid specifications, Kotait said. Fucci’s response was “totally unacceptable,” Kotait said.

After the town refused to bend, Fucci essentially applied a stop work order on itself, School Building and Grounds Director Jay Miner said. Fucci refused to work for approximately four days on that area, Kotait said.

“This is to inform you that due to the work stoppage you imposed on May 6, C.J. Fucci will be forced to lay off a portion of our work force and park equipment on Thursday, May 12, due to lack of available work on the site,” Morrissey wrote. “We are entitled to all costs incurred including lost, down and idle (time) for reimbursement upon resolution of the stop work order when these costs may be calculated.”

As part of the bid, Fucci agreed to meet certain deadlines as part of the bid, Finance Director Rudie Beers said. If it doesn't, the contract can be voided, Beers said.

“There is no provision in his contract to just stop working,” Beers said. “None.”

After four days, Fucci again began working on the site, Kotait said. However, Wagner again found the company in violation Tuesday, and sent a violation order to the company to fix the problem within 24 hours, he said.

Despite the setbacks, the company should still be able to meet the deadlines, Kotait said. If it doesn't, the town can void the contract.

The town does not have to accept the lowest bidder if it deems that it is not in its best interest, Beers said. Nobody in town had worked with Fucci before, but the firm came highly recommended, she said.