Mike Salsbury/The Olympian
Tom Frare, project manager for the Fourth Avenue bridge project, sits in his office overlooking the site.

Engineer comes out of retirement to oversee project

34-month contract pays $493,415 to ex-city employee

MICHAEL BURNHAM, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published Sunday, February 3, 2002

OLYMPIA -- All eyes are on the rubble and rebirth of the Fourth Avenue bridge -- and, to a lesser degree, on the half-million-dollar man behind the show.

At a cost of $39.7 million, the bridge corridor project is the largest and most expensive public works project in Olympia's history.

After the Feb. 28, 2001, earthquake, the early construction of the project's temporary bridge was the result of vigorous lobbying by local politicians in Washington, D.C.

So, Tom Frare -- the city's former engineer who is still overseeing the corridor project as a private contractor -- expected a little attention.

Crews from the Hamilton Construction Co. of Springfield, Ore., began demolishing the 81-year-old span last November.

Frare has spent the winter stomping out public relations fires and proving to state officials that permits are being met to the letter.

It's all part of the job.

He's the cellphone-toting certified public engineer who answers to the city and its taxpayers.

He's the one whose name is on the project's environmental permits -- and the project's $493,415 consulting contract.

The old job

In August 2001, Frare, 55, retired as Olympia's city engineer.

According to city records, Frare began work with the city in January 1977 as an assistant superintendent of the Water and Sewer departments.

In February 1985, he was promoted to assistant director of Olympia's Street and Utilities Section within the city's Public Works Department.

From 1995 to his retirement, he had the dual responsibility of overseeing the Fourth Avenue bridge corridor construction project as well as the Department of Public Works' Engineering Division.

The Nisqually Earthquake knocked out the use of the old Fourth Avenue bridge between downtown and the west side, causing worrisome traffic knots.

In order to expedite the construction of the temporary, two-lane bridge that crosses Budd Inlet, Frare stepped down from his responsibility as engineering division head to focus full-time on applying for the state and federal bridge permits. The temporary bridge opened in July, more than four months before bridge demolition began.

Frare's August retirement marked slightly more than 30 years of work covered by the state's pension system.

"I'd always intended on retiring at 30 years, but I also intended on finishing the bridge project by then," Frare said. "That didn't happen."

When Frare retired, his salary and benefits amounted to a cost of about $3,856 per two-week pay period for the city, city records show. That's about $8,355 per month, or about $100,256 per year. About $81,000 of that was salary, said Olympia Public Works Director Michael Mucha.

"Financially, it was in my best interests to retire and work on my consulting business," said Frare, a private engineering consultant since 1978.

And a bridge still needed to be built.

The new job

In September 2001, the city began advertising for a bridge corridor project manager. Three engineers applied, including Frare.

Mucha said Frare was selected because of his engineering qualifications and his history with the project.

"He was determined to have the most experience and knowledge," Mucha said.

Frare defends the city's choice.

"There were no guarantees when I left the city of Olympia that I was going to be the (bridge) project manager," Frare said.

The 34-month consulting contract pays Frare no more than $493,415. That's about $14,512 per month -- a 74 percent increase over Frare's former compensation package as city engineer.

The contract lists Frare with a billing rate of $81.67 per hour.

According to city billing records, that rate is low. Other top bridge consultants have included: Entranco project manager Mike Terrell, $150 per hour; David Goodyear Engineering Services Principal David Goodyear, $185 per hour; and The Shea Group Principal Perry Shea, $175 per hour.

Had Frare remained city engineer, he would have continued as the city's bridge corridor project manager, Mucha said.

Under this scenario, the city would pay about $95 per hour to cover Frare's base salary, benefits and other overhead costs. The city would be reimbursed by the federal government up to 60 percent of Frare's hourly rate.

"If I had remained at the city as city engineer, it would have cost the city more," Frare said.

Because Frare is a private consultant, up to 100 percent of his billing rate of $81.67 per hour is eligible for reimbursement.

Frare's primary responsibilities include:

- Coordinating any project change orders.

- Resolving public complaints.

- Maintaining daily contact with Hamilton Construction.

- Coordinating with a downtown marketing committee.

"With my experience, they're getting a good deal," Frare said.

In the wake of Frare's departure, the city engineer's responsibilities have been divided up temporarily. Fran Eide oversees the Engineering Division manager, while Karl Imlig handles engineering duties.

Mucha hopes to hire a permanent city engineer by April 1.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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