Broome Lawmakers Addressing Errors In Jail Bidding Process

Lawmakers in Broome County pushed Monday to fix the errors made in the bidding process for the construction of the expansion for the county’s jail. The county came under fire after no other construction firms were considered for the work except for LaBella Associates. The county’s competitive selection laws require it to consider multiple firms. On Monday, LaBella and Highland Associates of Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania both give thirty-minute presentations to the county legislature’s Public Works and Transportation committee. The committee unanimously chose LaBella, a choice it says was based on the group’s experience with jails in New York State, including the Broome County facility which it helped build 18 years ago. The renovation project will cost $5.7 million.