An article in the Utica Observer-Dispatch from April 2010 discusses Pike Company, which had been in charge of some construction projects in the Newburgh School District. Company supervising schools project had contract canceled elsewhere:

The company overseeing the Utica City School District's $187.6 million renovation project recently had its contract with another school district terminated.

In early 2008, about the same time it was chosen for the Utica project, the Pike Co. was hired as construction manager to oversee contractors for a $75 million renovation project for the Newburgh Enlarged City School District.

But just more than a month ago, the contract with Newburg was terminated.

Utica Superintendent James Willis said he knew about Pike's situation with Newburgh, but he isn't concerned about what that means for Utica.

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Past problems

There are varying opinions about why Pike's Newburgh contract was cancelled.

Pike Co. Chief Executive Officer Tom Judson said the project size was cut dramatically, and the company's services were no longer needed.

Representatives from Armlin Damon & McMordie, the company that oversaw Pike in Newburgh and is doing the same in Utica, said there was a conflict of personalities.

The Newburgh district isn't talking. Multiple calls to Newburgh Superintendent Annette Saturnelli and school board members were not returned.

Minutes from that district's school board, however, say simply that there was an "early termination of the contract." No other details are provided.

Pike also was removed from the $35 million renovation of the Albany County Courthouse in August 2008 after that project lagged more than two years behind schedule.

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The team of Pike officials who worked on the Newburgh and Albany projects is different than the team in Utica. Gloria Ciminelli, who will lead the Utica team, did not return calls Monday.

Willis said he spoke to Newburgh board members, who told him the contract was terminated because "the chemistry wasn't there."

"There was nothing wrong with the work that they did," Willis said.

Utica Project Manager Tony Armlin, whose company oversaw Pike in Newburgh, said Pike is a "fine company." "They are a very strong construction management team," Armlin said. "We're very pleased with the team in Utica."

Armlin, who didn't work on the Newburgh project, said the situation there wasn't a good fit.

"It was not a performance-based issue," he said. "The personalities of that district and Pike didn't mesh. That happens sometimes on projects."

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