Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1912-07-11
RELEASE ASKED
BY CONTRACTOR
A R. A. 0verqaard Makes
Request to School Board
Would Lose on Building.
LIKELY TO BE RELIEVED
Expected Entire Work and
Bid According--To Low on
Manual Training Structure.

Considerable delay will probably
be experienced by the Board ot
School Commissioner in the cree
tion of the manual training building
addition to the grammar school and
the central heating plant on the
grammar school grounds in Bar
racks street as Andrew R. A. Over,
gard who was awarded the contract
for the erection of the marual
school building at figure of $780,
I230, has presented to the board q
written request that he be relieved
of this contract. This action of
Mr.. Overgaard, and the fact that the
boards expense in furnishing these
improvements will be about 10000
more than the amount allowed by
the Board Of School Estimate, 1t is
unlikely that the addition or man
ual training building will be ready
for occupancy before the Christmas
vacation.
Board May Release Him.
Mr.. Overgaard's action in request
ing to be released from his con-
tract. has not met with censure from
the school commissioners. President
John K. Sheehy states that the
board appreciates Mr.. Overgaard's 3
position, and believes that he en-
tered low bid on the manual
training building in the expectation
Of securing all the work, therefore
will not work any hardship on him,
if 1t can be avoided.
The board will hold a special
meeting, Mr.. Sheehy states. within
the next week at which time def
mite action will be taken on the
Overgaard request. If he is releas-
ed, as expected, the contract will
probably be awarded to ]. N. Wes-
ter, who received the addition and
central heating plant work. Mr..
Wester was low on all three jobs,
save the figure presented by Mr..
Overgaard on the manual training
building. President Sheehy does
not believe the board will retain
Mr.. Overgaard's check for $500 pre-
sented with his proposal.
Loses Money on subdivisions.
1t is Mr.. Overgaard's contention
that the figure he submitted for the
entire work was sufficiently high
enough to net him a fair return on
the contract, but, when subdiyided,
the proposal ON the manual train
ing building went down into rock
bottom, below any possibility of max
ing any money On the job. In fact,
he states that he would have proba-
bly, lost money at the figure sub
mitted. Mr.. OVergaard also con-
tends that two contractors can not
work on practically the same job at
| the same time without causing
much inconvenience to each other
The school commissioners made an
effort to induce the contractors tc
purchase their material in a lump
quantity, but this method Mr.. Wester
refused to employ.
Ask Estimate Board For More.
President Sheehy has called the
attention Of Acting Mayor Ferd
Garretson to the need of special
meeting of the Board of Estimate,
relative to an increase In the ap-
preparation of s65,000 covering the
cost of the proposed improvements
at the grammar school. Mr.. Wes-
ter's bids were: Addition, $40,834;
manual training building, $22,115;
heating plant, S4,076; total, $67,-
026. No contracts will be signed
Mr.. Sheehy states, until the Board
of Estimate takes action on the
school boards request for addi-
tional funds to cover the cost of
installing a heating system and fur
nishings in the three buildings,
which will send the total cost up to
about $4,000.