Commissioners are sticker shocked by office renovation costs in Muhlenberg

MUHLENBER TWP., Pa. -

Muhlenberg Township Commissioners were faced with another round of high dollar change orders Monday night for the new township office building, located at 210 George Street.

The board has had to approve several change orders for issues arising during the renovations of the office in Berks County since the start of construction.

E.R. Stuebner is the contractor on the project.

Jamal Abodalo, director of Engineering and Codes, admitted that the large number of change orders are a result of "a clear lack of coordination between the architect and his professional team."

Board of Commissioners President Michael Malinowski called for a vote on each change order individually.

"The way all these change orders came in arbitrarily, I just won't vote for them without learning a little more," Malinowski said.

This weeks changes totaled $74,555 and included nearly $2,000 to finish framing the canopy over the police entry and more than $1,300 to repair the brick walls.

Commissioners approved those changes but did not approve an additional $500 to repaint interior walls with accent colors.

They acknowledged that request as another example of the contractor and architect not communicating with the interior designers.

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Commissioners are sticker shocked by office renovation costs in Muhlenberg