The letter from Mr. W.J. Yuengling in the 3/28 Amityville Record questions the need for the newly hired overseer for the Park Avenue project: "...I, don’t understand why, now after roughly two years, we have to ‘hire’ one at between $1750 plus $3000 per month...or at a flat fee of $15,000."

I agree with Mr. Yuengling, the district already hired an "overseer" called Christa Construction to protect the district’s interests & manage the project for a fee of over $600,000. I as well as the two other Board members (Mee and Cahaney) who have been requesting specific answers to specific "concerns" since the construction phase started have not been receiving those answers in public or in private. Instead, four Board members (Santos, Bean, Chikazunga, and Williams) have not required Christa Construction to respond either in writing or verbally to every issue/problem/concern identified by community members experienced in construction and us.

Due to the observable problems with the project and the inadequate responses to those concerns from Christa Construction, Trustees Cahaney, Mee, and I voted to hire a person/firm to evaluate the work performed to date to determine if the project has been appropriately "managed" and constructed. The other four Board members voted against that person and firm (Tymus & Turner Construction who were recommended by Hal Schad-a former Board member experienced in construction for over 40 years) and instead voted for an individual named Bruce Forster.

However, the majority Board wants the public to believe the two proposals submitted (Tymus & Forster) were for the same work.

In fact, the $15,000 "at fee" Mr. Yuengling refers to was for an evaluation of the work performed to date to be done by Peter Tymus & Turner construction (after signing a mutually acceptable contract). This proposal was from a person and construction management firm not currently associated with the project.

Specifically Peter Tymus wrote; "This proposal is based on the following criteria: Review of work performed to date. Review of reporting and documentation to date. Review of present construction managers services provided to date. Review of project plans and specifications. Review of payments made to date. Preparation and issuance of a report indicating findings of fact based on above reviews—for a fixed lump sum of $15,000."

Unfortunately the person (Bruce Forster) whom the four Board members (Santos, Bean, Williams and Chikazunga) did hire for a $3,000 monthly fee wrote in his proposal to the Board that "This proposal excludes evaluation of old and&/or settled issues. This is a forward working proposal." In addition, Mr. Forster’s proposal requires that "The district must hold consultant harmless from any & all claims arising from this association with the project, at the districts expense." The District (Taxpayers) would have to pay the legal expenses and judgments in all lawsuits brought by others against Mr. Forster.

Yes, Mr. Yuengling, you are correct when you write; "The Board is our representative," They, all of them, Board and Administrators work for us." Unfortunately, only 3 Board members (Cahaney, Mee, and Andrews) remember that.

Stephannie A. Andrews

Amityville Board of Education Trustee