Process to update an…

Process to update an Engineer's Report.
The proposal includes a provision that the eligibility criteria to support a minor change in the Engineer's report must be determined by Council. This is far too cumbersome. Typically minor changes occur during construction. If a design change is necessary for the project to proceed, this proposal envisions that the project must be halted while waiting on the next available Council meeting. This is likely to generate significant claims for extra costs from Contractors due to delay, potentially exceeding the 10% cost exceedance limitation in the proposal. The proposal as written will result in considerable cost escalation when minor problems are encountered in the field.
Most construction contracts that use the OPS General Conditions of Contract give authority to the Contract Administrator, who is typically also the Drainage Engineer, to make changes to the work when necessary. The Act as currently written, and as proposed in this amendment, appears to be in conflict with the standard contractual terms in use throughout the Province.