By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
The Olean Common Council’s Parks and Recreation Committee agreed Tuesday to consider a resolution next week to declare default and terminate a contract with PV Paving & Concrete over construction of the War Veterans Park splash pad.
The resolution, if approved at the Sept. 8, meeting, would require that all work be completed by Oct. 16.
Mayor Amy B. Sherburne, who proposed the resolution, said it may not be necessary if the parties can agree on corrective actions that need to be performed. A meeting with PV Paving & Concrete, Smethport, and CPL, the city’s engineering firm from Buffalo, is scheduled for Wednesday.
The Common Council purchased the components of the splash pad more than three years ago for $800,000 using federal economic stimulus grant funding.
In May 2024, the council approved a bid of $459,540 from PV Paving & Concrete to build the splash pad. The other bid received was for $2.6 million. The city’s engineering firm had estimated costs of around $800,000 for construction.
The project proceeded slowly. Former Mayor Bill Aiello held out hope the splash pad could open for the 2025 season. That didn’t happen. As the 2026 summer season approached in June, the city said the contractor was waiting for one part before opening the splash pad.
In recent weeks it was disclosed that the splash pad does not appear to have been built to specifications. The concrete pad may have to be redesigned and replaced.
The mayor said her meeting with PV Paving and Concrete and CPL officials is designed to discuss a punchlist and a plan of action. A top CPL official said they want “to make it right for the city.”
After the meeting, the mayor told the Olean Star that PV Paving & Concrete and CPL “are going to have to agree to repair and fix the project.” She said it must be completed this year.
Sherburne also wants CPL to maintain an onsite presence during construction. “I told them PV Paving is going to need assistance through every step of this in order for us to be agreeable.”
The mayor said she wants the project to be ready to open “for the very beginning of next year. We did not want to have to delay this and start over in the spring.” She’s holding PV Paving and CPL equally responsible for the grading issue.
“We won’t allow them to fix the problem until they both together are going to be on site to fix it,” Sherburne said.
In other action, the City Operations Committee discussed amending the city code to read that city parks will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. They are currently open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The council will consider the change next week.
Later, in the Parks and Recreation Committee, chairwoman Jennifer Forney asked when park restrooms are open. The city has been inconsistent in opening them, she said.
Sherburne responded that she had locked the park restrooms for a week following an incident.
Who’s responsible for locking and unlocking the restrooms, asked Councilman John Crawford, D-Ward 5?
The mayor replied that Parks employees unlock park restrooms in the morning and police see that they are locked at night. They will remain open during park hours through October.
After Council President Lawrence “JR” Bennion, R-Ward 1, asked the status of the city’s condemned salt shed at the City Garage site on North Barry Street, Public Works Director James Sprague told the council he thinks he’s found a solution.
Bennion said the issue has been going on for four years and “it irritates the hell out of me.”
Parts of a metal frame that was to be covered in a fabric to keep road salt dry, have sat in a pile at the city’s Front Street yard.
Sprague, who is not the first public works director to face the issue, said he’s been talking to Cattaraugus County about a shared services agreement that would allow the city to have road salt shipped to the county’s salt storage facility at the Seventh Street highway garage.
Other municipalities have similar shared services agreements with the county. They coordinate salt deliveries with the county
Any remaining salt in the city’s salt shed could be removed and the building demolished, Sprague said.
So will this start this winter? Bennion asked.
“That’s the plan.” replied Sprague.
“Is this a potential long-term solution?” asked Alderwoman Sonya McCall, D-Ward 4.
“Yes,” said Sprague.
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