By Peter Grad In what may be the most significant judgment of its kind to date, a 500-page report on Co-op City's deteriorating Ric-Wil pipe system issued yesterday by a major engineering consulting firm levelled a scorching indictment of the manner in which the system was built and in effect cleared Riverbay of responsibility for the system's demise. The evaluation, prepared by the firm of Ebasco Services Inc., a firm with employees in offices several continents, states that "inadequate preventive measures," "improper" materials, "inadequate designs," "improper welding," lack of "safety margins" and the absence of and parts vital for proper operation and maintenance all contributed to the massive breakdowns suffered by the heating and airconditioning system over the last several years. The Ric-Wil system, a 32-mile network of pipes which carries water for air-cooling and heating in all buildings, is in such poor conditioa that.iaccording to past surveys, it wilt probably have to be replaced in its entirety. Such a mammoth=project would cost in the tens of millions of dollars. The Ebasco Report confirms
improper construction of the RicWil system. The DHCR, however, contends that "improper maintenance procedures" by Riverbay caused Explaining that the Ric-Wil the system's deteriortation, That system requires permanent dry view was expressed as recently insulation, as specified by the as last fall by Acting Housing system's manufacturers, the Commissioner Joseph Goldman report declares that "poor welds at a legislative hearing on conat joints" and "insufficient ap- struction defects. The DHCR plications of protective coatings" stand comes despite the critical subjected the system to "a water Perkins and Wil report and the table that is above the bottom of Levitt Report which zeroed in on· the pipe" and which "can never what it termed the State agency's "deficient supervision" and be dry." "Wet insulation is extremely "incompetent auditing" of corrosive and initiated severe contractors who built Co-op City. Bolsters Ríverbay claim corrosion attacks with The Ebasco Report bolsters Cosubsequent failure in various areas," the report notes, adding op City's contention that even the "It is impossible to dry out the best attempts at maintenance would have been frustrated due resultant wet insulatíon." Furthermore, the report states, to deficiencies in the Ric-WH testing of soil surrounding the system's design. It states, for instance, that pipes indicated that the fill is "of a corrosive nature" which manhole ventillation systems significently aggravates the "are non-existent," a condition which results in temperatures pipe's deteriorating condition. exceeding 120 degrees Evidence against state Fahrenhait and which would lt has been Riverbay's con- require "forced ventillation tention that the State, which before entry could be achieved hired the contractors who built for any inspection or work." Co-op and the Division of Additional charges reveal that Housing and Community spacing of pipes to allow for Renewal, which was charged access for repairs or mainwith overseeing construction tenance is "inadequate". that practices, are responsible for the ( Continued on page 8)
many of the findings outlined in the major Perkins and Will report issued two years and ~ uncovers new findings as
s Riverbay Corporation filed an answer today in the legal action brought against it by Ferlin Serice Industries, Inc. and Carey Fields, Ferlin President. The answer was also filed on behalf of
George Steiner and Matthew Lifflander who were named as defendants in the Ferlin action, asserts that Ferlin owes Riverbay $750,000 in alleged overcharges.
had not received. Riverbay General Manager George Steiner wrote Ferlin President Carey Fields on May 29 advising him that the audit had shown an apparent overbilling far in excess of the amounts due Ferlin had claimed $71,000 in a to Ferlin. Steiner informed Fields· lawsuit initiated on June 18 in that Riverbay would hold back which the plaint~.also charged any further payments until Steiner, L.ij'flañder, and Fields provided Riverbay with Hagedorn Communications Inc., his records so that the accounts publisher of the City News, with could be reconciled. defamation. The $71,000 claim Fields never responded to was primarily for equipment and supplies that Riverbay had not Riverbay's -demand and subsequently, Ferlin failed to pay the' yet paid for. Ferlin employees payroll for the Riverbay had refused to pay last two weeks of the Ferlin for Ferlin's outstanding invoices contract. Riverbay Corporation following an audit by the advanced the employees sufRiverbay Corporation's Con- ficient money to keep them on the troller's office which revealed job until Prudential Building that Riverbay had apparently Maintenance Corp. could take been charged for over 44,000 over the payroll management a worker-hours of janitorial and few days earlier than angroundskeeping services which it ticipated.
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l.eft to right are Security Offic:e¡,:s Rudolph \Dillomenico, .Arthur Cimih.11cca, Jeff Bowman and Stephen Katz posil'lg Íl'I frol'lt of the l'lew Security Rescue Truck 7, DiDomel'lico, Cimi!ucca al'ld Bowman are ali trained l:M'l's. Photo hy Peter Grad
Security officers aid senior citizen By Madelon Rosen It was Co-op City Sécurity to.
where Herman Cooperman, 79, was suffering from a possible heart condition.
the rescue again as a senior citizen faced possible cardiac problems this past week. The Cooperman had been in the Security Rescue Truck 7, with Goose Island Seniors room when Security Patrolmen Jeff Bowman he passed out He was removed to and Arthur Cililucca, responded the Einstein Nutrition program this past Wednesday afternoon to office where site manager Anne Einstein Community Center Melino did not get a pulse from Cooperman. She quickly called Security. Dispatcher Gigi Binghier! called Cimilucea, Bowman and 911 emergency number. Almost immediately, the security officers were on the scene giving Cooperman oxygen and checking his vital signs as he began to come around. Accord díng to Címilucca and Bowman, Ríverbay security was also Cooperman said he was a recent required to act to prevent Ferlin cardiac patient and had just from taking equipment off the gotten out of the hospital. premises which would interfere Bowman and Cimilucca stayed with a smooth transition to with the senior citizen until the Prudential who were the suc- ambulance from Jacobi cessful bidders, having offered to' arrived. "The training we got is finally do the same job for some several hundred thousand dollars less coming into line," noted Cimilucca, The patrolman was ( Continued on page 2) (Continued onpage 8)
Inside this week: Board authorizes new communication system for Security page 3 A look at Prudential's gardening crew page 4 President's Report Letters Consumer's Corner Focus Metroviews Bulletin Board Happenings
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