Chick Backs Efforts on Contract Disputes

After a briefing from officials in the city attorney’s office and Department of Public Works, a key City Council member said Monday that she is satisfied with the city’s efforts to resolve a number of contract disputes arising from a massive expansion of the Hyperion sewage treatment plant.

“I think we are going in the right direction,” said Councilwoman Laura Chick, who requested Monday’s closed-door briefing after learning of complaints that some of the project’s contractors have leveled against the city. “This will allow us to conduct discovery and get to the bottom of some of these questions.”

Three contractors are pursuing claims or lawsuits against the city, and the disputed amounts could top $100 million. Contractors say they were shortchanged as they scrambled to build the plant in the face of inadequate city designs.

City officials are constrained from commenting because the suits are pending, but some of them say privately that the fault for those changes lies with the contractors.

The confrontation promises to be a difficult and possibly prolonged one. The contractors already have moved ahead with their claims; one firm filed its lawsuit last month and two others are pressing ahead as well. Meanwhile, the City Council last week voted to spend $700,000 on a retainer for a private law firm.