After two years, the dispute between the Town of Williston and a construction company they hired to build the new Williston Department of Public Works headquarters has finally reached a conclusion. According to the Burlington Free Press, the Williston Selectboard approved the payment of $10,000 to South Burlington-based Neagley and Chase Construction Co.
The lawsuit was filed in April of 2015 by the building firm that claimed Williston did not have adequate insurance coverage during the construction of the Public Works headquarters.
It could have been something that went unnoticed, but naturally it was not to be so. A collapse during the construction project left four of the company’s workers injured.
The suit alleges that the lapse in insurance, not to mention structural problems with the building itself, caused the collapse. The age of the roof may also have played a role in the accident; while a typical metal roof can last for about 30 years, other types of structures may have shorter lifespans.
When the company went to claim the corresponding insurance from Property and Casualty Intermunicipal Fund, an insurance arm of nonprofit Vermont League of Cities and Towns, they suspended their coverage contract.
In addition to the money Williston was ordered to pay, Property and Casualty Intermunicipal Fund was ordered to pay $115,000 to Neagley and Chase in compensation for added construction and legal costs.
According to Tom Chase, founding CEO of Neagley and Chase, the four men who fell recovered from their injuries “long ago” and have since returned to work.
Town Manager Rick McGuire could not be reached for comment, but it appears that the dispute is over and settled with now.
