Spiniello Companies’ domination of Baltimore’s water and sewer contracting business came into sharp focus at yesterday’s Board of Estimates meeting.

Not only did the company win a $5 million EWO (Extra Work Order) for ongoing “urgent need” repairs, it secured another $14 million to reline a water main in East Baltimore that was fully $1.8 million above the price of the competing bidder.

The $5 million EWO was approved without discussion as part of the routine agenda by Comptroller Bill Henry and City Council President Zeke Cohen.

(Absent from the meeting was Mayor Brandon Scott, who was feted last night at a private fundraiser in Martha’s Vineyard hosted by Conrad Woody, a Washington, D.C., talent advisor, and Craig Thompson, Governor Wes Moore’s campaign committee chair, among others. Deputy Administrator Shamiah Kerney took the mayor’s seat at the meeting.)

The $5 million in extra funding to Spiniello was summarized in the agenda as necessary to “continue addressing water main, valve and hydrant replacement at various locations of Baltimore City and County.”

The paperwork justifying the added costs, however, was not available for public viewing on the Board of Estimates Dashboard.

Instead, “No data” appears on the database:

Unusual Post-Bid Vetting

A protest by Northeast Remsco, the low bidder on the second contract, required Cohen, Henry and Kerney to listen to an appeal by its attorney, Robert Fulton Dashiell.

But before his statement, Blake Succa, DPW deputy chief of engineering and construction, told the board that a new feature was added to the contract – the requirement of “references” attesting to the type of utility work previously performed by the two bidders.

Remsco was pre-qualified to perform “sliplining” of sewer lines, but this contract involved “slipping” a narrower pipe inside an existing pipe for a water main, not a sewer line, Succa said.

Not surprisingly, the eight references that Remsco submitted to DPW did not specifically involve water mains, while the three references submitted by Spiniello – all from the same client, Pennsylvania American Water-  did pertain to water mains.

“Based on the information we received,” Succa said, “we determined Spiniello is the only bidding contractor that sufficiently meets the qualifications we included in our specs and bidding documents.”

In regards to Spiniello’s high price – $1.8 million above Remsco’s bid and 17% higher than DPW’s own internal estimate – Succa said his office looked at whether Spiniello’s bid items were “balanced” or “unbalanced.”

“Yes, the prices for some of the bid items were higher than we would expect, but they were, in fact, balanced.” Succa explained, pointing to an illustrated slide presentation. “We did not determine that any of their pricing was unbalanced.”

He then raised the specter of a catastrophic water break if the city waited for the contract to be rebid, which he said could take at least another year. Then he cited “the concept of inflation,” saying “there is no guarantee of an equal or lower price” if the contract was readvertised.

For these reasons, the contract should be awarded to Spiniello, he concluded.

Dashiell scoffed at DPW’s demand for client references after the bids were opened, which he called a ruse to deny his client the contract.

“Remsco is bonded. They’re pre-qualified for sanitary sewers, the only category the city has related to sliplining. They’re a national company, and they’ve done excellent work,” he noted. “We urge you not to spend $1.8 million in taxpayer money for nothing.”

An awkward silence followed.

“Mr. Comptroller, any questions for either DPW or Mr. Dashiell,” Cohen asked.

“No,” Henry murmured.

“No? Hearing and seeing none, I will entertain a motion,” Cohen said.

The award was approved 5-0, with Acting DPW Director Matt Garbark (whose agency recommended the award) and Deputy Solicitor Steve Salsbury (subbing for his absent boss, Ebony Thompson) joining Cohen, Henry and Kerney in assent.

Spiniello’s Spending on BOE Members

The Brew reviewed campaign contributions on file with the state Board of Elections.

We found that Spiniello and two executives funneled $19,500 to the board’s three current elected members – Mayor Scott, Comptroller Henry and City Council President Cohen.

By far the lion’s share went to Scott, who controls three of the board’s five votes.

CEO E.J. Solimine, Mid-Atlantic Manager Christopher Billak and the company gave $17,500 to Scott during the 2023-24 period he ran for reelection.

Billak additionally contributed $1,000 each to Henry’s and Cohen’s campaign committees.

Another $1,000 was handed out to Nick Mosby, who lost to Cohen in the 2024 Democratic primary and left the board in December 2024.

Paying the Piper

The normally courtly Dashiell was livid after the meeting.

“It was like, ‘we heard what you had to say, and we’re going to do what the hell we decided to do anyway.’ And for them to put on that dog-and-pony show, ridiculous! This was a routine contract that, by law, is supposed to be awarded to the lowest bidder.”

Was Spiniello’s reputation as having a lock on water and sewer contracts – it’s gotten more than $150 million in BOE awards over the last decade – a factor, he was asked.

Or its role as a reliable contributor to local politicians, including to the current mayor?

How about the fact that the company isn’t shy about threatening the city with lawsuits over money disputes?

“He who pays the piper calls the tune,” the lawyer finally said after a long sigh, hastening to add that he was in no way suggesting that any one person had done anything improper.