On August 25, SJPWA's construction management team met at the St. John's Pond weir to assess the project's status and address delays in responding to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The team included Brian Pierce and Gideon Pollach for St. John's, Christine Tuohy from Verdantas's Long Island office, two Verdantas field engineers from Pennsylvania, and a team leader from Posillico Inc., Verdantas's construction partner.
Posillico explained that delays stemmed from unresolved insurance requirements with Dam It, the rebranded successor to their previous dewatering partner Porta-Dam. Both firms proposed alternatives — a sandbag system or precast concrete blocks — for the temporary dam needed to dewater the construction area.
After walking the weir and reviewing site access from the rectory yard, Posillico confirmed its small three-ton excavator could safely reach the work area. Engineers probing the pond bottom found the entire area between the wing walls sits on a concrete pad.
Christine Tuohy confirmed that Verdantas now has what it needs to prepare and submit its response to the DEC.