Five contractors have filed lawsuits against the City of Guelph collectively seeking more than $1.5 million for work associated with the expanded and renovated police headquarters.
The lawsuits, filed between July 21 and Sept. 15, seek payment of alleged outstanding invoices for various aspects of the project including: architectural work, masonry, aluminum panel cladding, fire suppression, metal stud framing, drywall, acoustic tile and more.
On behalf of Christopher Cooper, the city’s manager of legal, realty and court services, corporate communications manager Laura Mouseau told GuelphToday the city doesn’t comment on matters before the court.
The city has not filed any statements of defence at this time. None of the allegations have been proven in court.
Court documents show that former project manager Jasper Construction, fired in late June, is also named in each of the lawsuits. In a couple of the cases it has filed crossclaims seeking to have any judgement against it awarded to the city.
The $34.1 million expansion and renovation of police headquarters, at 15 Wyndham St. S., began in April 2016. Work was initially expected to be done by spring of last year but is not yet complete.
Included in the project are two new wings, including a four-storey structure intended for parking and future office space, as well as gutting and rebuilding the inside of the existing facility. The work includes enhanced security features, private interview rooms and a multi-function room for community use.
In addition to being more than a year behind schedule, the project is running over budget. Just how much hasn’t been publicly revealed.
“We’re working on that update now and expect to have something to share shortly,” said Mouseau in an email.
“We’re also working with the new contractor to review remaining work and project remaining costs to determine if there will be any budget impacts and, should it be needed, will bring a report to council to request any needed budget increase.
“There’s no timeline for this report yet.”
City officials announced in early July that Jasper was let go due to “serious” contractual deficiencies in the work completed to date that had been identified but not rectified. Soon after, city bonding agent Perini Management was announced as the new general contractor.