Norton boiler punch list @ Nov 13 (hWg 46)

Sorry I didn't post this a couple weeks ago with the original letter from the Consulting Engineer. Anyway, here's the Norton boiler punch list of outstanding items as of November 13 (per the engineer):I'm no expert, but I guess the above list is what you call "an occasional punch list item."Finally, I want to reiterate two of my thoughts on hotWatergate:

1) I don't think there's corruption in Town Hall. However, considering the unbelievable sequence of events that created hotWatergate... I think any reasonable person could conclude there is corruption. Personally though, I conclude it's just total incompentence. But what's new? As I've said before, at the confluence of energy and engineering - this Council is entirely incompentent.

2) At least one Council member has said there is no corruption in Town Hall. I, on the other hand, say I don't believe there is any corruption in Town Hall. But I cannot speak with absolute certainty.

Tim White

A letter from the Engineer, P.E. (hWg 45)

I got this letter from Norton Boiler Project's "consulting engineer"* yesterday:I also have a copy of the punch list. I may add that tomorrow, but figured I'd let you start by digesting this.

Tim White

* I use the phrase "consulting engineer" to indicate that he's not a town employee.

PBC Chairman on Norton boiler conclusion? (hWg 44)

Here is the PBC Chairman speaking to the Council at the November 12 meeting: So is the Norton Boiler project finally done? Will the door finally be shut on hotWatergate?

To be continued....

Tim White

Norton boiler installation completed? (hWg 43)

Councilman and PBC liaison, Matt Altieri, sent the following email to the Council on Wed Oct 15:

Hello Fellow Council Members

As a follow up to my liaison report I have some word on Norton Boiler. All three boilers are up and running and providing heat for the school. At least one boiler has been operational since Sept. 26. Due to a minor wiring problem there was a delay in getting all boilers on line-they were all put on line on Oct. 6th There is one more subcommittee meeting of the PBC that will go over certifications and reports and that will take place on Oct 17th. There were no problems reported with the boilers since they were put on line-as far as I know.

Best regards
Matt Altieri

But if you look at the history of hotWatergate, you'll see a "substantial completion" date and a "final completion" date. So I've already asked staff about that.

Furthermore, Councilman Altieri's description of a "minor wiring problem" is a red flag to me. How does one define "minor?" Considering this project has faced allegations of corruption... I want to understand this project well. (Hopefully we can get some new Council leadership next year and finally get to the bottom of this... as this Council has been derelict in its duties and taken a pass on truly understanding what happened. It's really disgraceful in my opinion that we never learned why The Corruption Memo was withheld for ten days... or what happened to The Disappearing Memo.)

As a reminder though, I don't view this mess as a result of any unilateral action by the Council's PBC liaison. Rather, it's an incomprehensible mess because of the refusal of this Council to ask real questions and get the truth, the whole truth and nothing, but the truth about what happened.

Tim White

PBC meeting 10/1 (hWg 42)

Anyone hear what happened at the PBC meeting when they discussed hotWatergate?

I understand they were to discuss a number of outstanding items.

Tim White

Outstanding items as of Oct 1 (hWg 41)

Per town staff, the following items are outstanding:

1. Insulation of about 15 lineal feet of piping. This is the last actual physical work that WB will be doing directly.
2. Final water distribution balancing will be done by sub this week, report to follow.
3. Buderus rep to issue certification and provide warranty.
4. Riello rep to fire up two remaining burners (Wed) and get the other two boilers on line, and provide certification.
5. As-Built drawings.
6. Training for Education Dept Staff.

Presumably these items will be discussed at tomorrow's PBC meeting (Wed Oct 1). Hope you can attend. And remember:

"Light and liberty go together." - Thomas Jefferson to Tench Coxe, 1795

No word on whether deadlines have any relevance to this project. Regardless, I'm sure:Tim White

Norton boiler almost done - hWg 40

The Council liaison to the PBC, Matt Altieri, gave an update on hotWatergate today:And here's some related PBC minutes:

Tim White

PBC liaison report - Sept 9 - hWg 39

Two interesting points:

1) The dollar value on the CHS air conditioning installation and heating retrofit is up to $4,000,000. No word yet on whether that number was calculated using the fuzzy math of the planned $1.9million budget or the bizarro math of the last minute $1.5million budget.

2) hotWatergate continues! The Norton boiler installation is not yet completed. The PBC liaison explained that the project should be completed on time... by the end of the month.

Interesting choice of words:The important thing is to finish this project. But I seem to recall being told in Aug/Sept '07 that we would need to rebid this project because we were approaching heating season (Oct 15??) and we needed to be "fair." Ah yes... we needed to be fair. Well, I guess:Tim White

PBC subcommittee minutes July 28 - hWg 38

Additionally, there was a meeting of the full PBC tonight. (I was at town hall as the Council liaison for the Retirement Board.) I'm sure the PBC discussed hotWatergate the Norton boiler project.

Tim White

Update from Council liaison to PBC - hWg 37

This is the unedited text of an email sent to the Council from Councilman Matt Altieri today. It is an update on hotWatergate the Norton boiler project:

Hello Fellow Council Members

Wanted to give you a brief update on the status of the Norton Boiler project.

I had a chance to speak to one of the managers from White Bowman today and he said the project is on schedule at this point. The boilers have all been assembled and they are awaiting the delivery of the control panel and burners. There have been several minor change orders having to do with the floor and one of the doors. Apperantly these change orders would have been done no matter who did the project. I will get more details about this at the Public Building Commission meeting which is Wednesday. But all in all, the project has been running along smoothly all summer.

Best Regards
Matt Altieri

Washington DC spin... Cheshire style!

Tim White

PBC hotWatergate July report - hWg 36

I don't have any additional hotWatergate meeting minutes yet. But in the meantime, I thought I'd follow up on hWg 28 (the Council liaison's June report) and offer you the July PBC report.

Maybe it's just me, but I don't feel like the June and July reports have given as complete a picture of hotWatergate as the public deserves. Tim White

Meeting of the full PBC - June 4 (part 2) - hWg 35

When I originally posted the PBC minutes from June 4, I didn't include the last paragraph. Here's the full text:Tim White

PBC subcommittee minutes July 11 - hWg 34

Shhh... you're not supposed to know about this...
Tim White

Meeting of the full PBC - July 2 - hWg 33

And the saga continues...Tim White

hotWatergate heats up - hWg 32

No time to write now, but stay tuned because...

In the dog days of summer, hotWatergate is heating up.

To paraphrase an American hero:

"The change orders are coming! The change orders are coming!"

Tim White

Meeting of the full PBC - June 4 - hWg 31

In relation to hotWatergate, I believe this is the entire text of the June 4 PBC meeting:Extending the completion date from August 15 to September 22 provides an additional 39 days.

Tim White

PBC subcommittee minutes June 4 - hWg 30

I'm guessing that some of my Council colleagues won't appreciate me posting these public documents here.

I'm also guessing that President Bush doesn't appreciate people discussing the Scooter Libby case.

Some people dislike transparency and full disclosure.

Tim White

PBC subcommittee minutes May 28 - hWg 29

And how did I miss #13? I thought we were installing one boiler... for a total of two boilers? But now the PBC is installing two boilers for a total of three? And we're relocating the two year old boiler? Does that impact the warranty? Whatever... I'm sure if I ask any questions, I'll be told:
Tim White

PBC hotWatergate reports - hWg 28

I'm trying to do a post on hotWatergate, but can't upload images. Dunno why. I'll try again tomorrow.

It is interesting though to read the PBC meeting minutes and see project delay talk being approved this time. Does anyone happen to recall if Matt Altieri mentioned hotWatergate delays in his recent PBC liaison reports to the Council in June or July? Here's his June 10 report:

Maybe it's just me, but a 39 day delay (approved on June 4) seems significant... and something that Norton parents may find of interest as it crosses into the school year. But regardless of what he meant by "technical issues," I'm sure these aren't the droids we're looking for.

Tim White

hotWatergate continues... (hWg 27)

I'm not getting into it now, but I just wanted to point out... hotWatergate continues.

It's pretty unbelievable, IMO. Maybe more this weekend.

Tim White