General contractor quits firehouse expansion

The Pound Ridge Firehouse in Scotts Corners THANE GRAUEL PHOTO

Fire District Chairman Peter Gallagher Screenshot from Meeting video

By THANE GRAUEL

The general contractor hired for the $11 million firehouse overhaul and expansion has quit the job.

Pound Ridge Fire District Chairman Peter Gallagher discussed the situation Tuesday at the Town Board meeting. The town does not run the Fire Department; the fire district is its own entity, funded by taxes from property owners. 

Gallagher began with an update on various aspects of the project before getting to the jolting news bound to further delay the project, which he said already was three months behind.

“One thing I wanted to bring to your attention, which is unfortunate news, is the general contractor has notified us that they’re pulling out of the project, so one of the four main contractors has said that they can’t complete the project.” 

One of the reasons given by the firm, which he did not name, was tensions with the construction management outfit overseeing the whole project.

Gallagher said the project is 35 to 40% complete with asbestos abatement completed, unsuitable soils removed, the driveway moved, the foundations for the two additions poured, steel framing done, an oil-water separator done, and power conduits and preparations for a generation relocation completed.

He said that for the project, four main contractors — the general contractor, plumber, electrician and HVAC — were hired, as well as the construction management firm to oversee it all.

“Overall, the project’s been running about three months behind …” Gallagher said. “We are disappointed with that but the quality of work, and what we want, has been in line, so I’d say we’re more concerned with getting it done right than just plain fast.”

Gallagher said that each of the main contractors is bonded when working on a public project, so if they are unable to fulfill their duties, the agency that hired them is covered by insurance. If the work continues at something above the bid price, the insurance, not taxpayers, must make up the difference.

Gallagher said that after the general contractor quit, the district filed a claim with the bonding company and it sent an inspector, or adjuster, who was on site the week before.

“So, we’re in the process of finding a new general contractor to finish that role for the remaining 60% of the project.”

He said work would continue with the remaining contractors and the management company.

“Unfortunately, velocity is going to slow down a little more so we’re going to incur delays beyond the current three months that we have, but we still expect the project to complete within 2026,” he said.

Gallagher said the district’s attorney had looked at all of the paperwork, “and there’s really no cause for breach, which means the bonding company is responsible.”

“That means that even if we do get a new general contractor and they say it’s going to be $500,000 more, a million dollars more, it is the obligation of the bonding company to complete the project without impacting the taxpayers.”

The public approved a $6.5 million bond for the project in December 2023. In April 2025, the public approved another $3.5 the fire district requested. Additional funds were to be covered by the department’s reserve.

Town Board member Allison Boak asked if any explanation was given by the general contractor.

“One of the things that they claimed in the letter was they were having friction with the construction manager and telling them what to do,” Gallagher replied. “That’s the role of the construction manager as our representative,” he added.

“Some of the other things were complaints about the delays in the project, which were a result of the contractor themselves,” he said. “That’s why when we reviewed this with our attorney there was no cause for concern.”

Supervisor Kevin Hansan asked when the district would get competing bids.

“Ultimately it’s the bonding company’s decision who gets hired, but we obviously have influence,” Gallagher said, adding that some on the project expressed interest in expanding their roles.

Hansan asked when that might be done, and Gallagher said within weeks rather than months.

“But we’ll see,” Gallagher said. “We haven’t gotten hard commitments yet.”

The Nov. 11, 2025, fire district meeting minutes, the most recent posted on its website, give no hint of  contractor difficulties.

Under the heading Expanded Long Term Planning and Addition, the minutes read, “Commissioner (Frank) Tavolacci said building is going well and construction pace has picked up. Steel is up for new bays and kitchen. Slabs coming next. Plumbers, HVAC and Electricians are all poised to begin work.”

Gallagher could not be reached at presstime for further comment.