Dear Editor:

Prior to my retirement, I was employed in the construction field for nearly 40 years, building roads, bridges, water lines, and the like. Twenty six years was with PennDot as an inspector, supervisor and manager. Some of the projects I was involved with were The St. Clair Bypass, Deer Lake South in Moilino, 22 Renew in Allentown, Leiby's intersection and many, many more.The first thing I ever learned from my first supervisor was that wet material is not unsuitable. It is the contractor's responsibility to spread it out and dry it. Roll it, compact it, and seal it so it doesn't get wet again. He explained to me that a contractor will attempt to use this ploy all the time.I was shocked to see that the Tamaqua Borough Council approved a change order for $21,000 for the removal and replacement of wet material. Councilman Brian Connely declared "it was not contaminated. It was just wet soil." I would suspect that the engineer for the project submitted it for approval.One has to ask this question, if the area becomes inundated with large amounts of rainfall, and makes the soil saturated that no work could be done, will they approve another change order? My guess is yes and this would and should be totally unacceptable to Tamaqua taxpayers who are footing the bill.I would only hope that the Tamaqua Council gets their act together and stop spending money they do not have.Mike VadyakTamaqua