State OKs $4.3m contract for court
CONCORD – Funding for a new district courthouse in Merrimack got a unanimous nod from members of the Executive Council on Wednesday.
Councilors approved a $4.3 million contract to build the new Merrimack District Court after resolving questions about the company selected to do the job.
TLT Construction Corp. of Wakefield, Mass., was the lowest bidder of nine companies seeking the work.
“We’ve answered all the questions about this contract, and it’s especially important for us to get moving,” said Councilor Debora Pignatelli, D-Nashua.
The council had put off awarding the contract last month after The Telegraph questioned the level of state scrutiny of the contract since Massachusetts last summer had barred the firm for 18 months from bidding on public works projects in that state.
The Massachusetts Department of Capital Asset Management claimed the company falsified or filed incomplete information on applications to build three public schools in that state.
Lawyers for TLT have appealed the Massachusetts ruling.
The state Division of Plant and Property and the attorney general’s office conducted an inquiry and concluded TLT was properly qualified to become a bidder.
Attorney General Kelly Ayotte said TLT had properly disclosed its dispute about contracts in Massachusetts to state officials in New Hampshire.
The firm also had a solid record of performance during the construction of a $6 million health and science building at the New Hampshire Community College system’s flagship school in Concord.
“We’ve heard that project is going well, and that is reassuring,” Pignatelli said.
The state Department Transportation’s Public Works Division is charged with conducting bids for highway and state public works projects.
The state does not allow a single firm to do more than two contracts at one time.
The low bid was well under the department’s $5.4 million for the work. The state Legislature in 2007 approved spending up to $7 million on the project.
While the new court is under construction, the council has approved up to a two-year extension for the court to remain in Merrimack Town Hall space.
Pignatelli said the court project has become crucial with Gov. John Lynch’s plan to close the Milford District Court and move those cases to Merrimack.
“We already know Merrimack’s court is inadequate to do the job, and this would only add to the burden there,” she added.
Kevin Landrigan can be reached at 321-7040 or klandrigan@nashuatelegraph.com.
Attorney General Kelly Ayotte said TLT had properly disclosed its dispute about contracts in Massachusetts to state officials in New Hampshire.
The firm also had a solid record of performance during the construction of a $6 million health and science building at the New Hampshire Community College system’s flagship school in Concord.
“We’ve heard that project is going well, and that is reassuring,” Pignatelli said.
The state Department Transportation’s Public Works Division is charged with conducting bids for highway and state public works projects.
The state does not allow a single firm to do more than two contracts at one time.
The low bid was well under the department’s $5.4 million for the work. The state Legislature in 2007 approved spending up to $7 million on the project.
While the new court is under construction, the council has approved up to a two-year extension for the court to remain in Merrimack Town Hall space.
Pignatelli said the court project has become crucial with Gov. John Lynch’s plan to close the Milford District Court and move those cases to Merrimack.
“We already know Merrimack’s court is inadequate to do the job, and this would only add to the burden there,” she added.
