Backed by research of retired Superior Court Judge Carmen Lopez, a fierce critic of the Finch administration, some members of the City Council and school board have questions about the 15-year work history between the city and a leading Connecticut construction firm. From Brian Lockhart, CT Post:
Since the late 1990s, under three different mayors, the city has completed 39 school construction projects of various sizes worth well more than a half-billion dollars.
And there are seven initiatives valued at $271 million in the planning or building stages: New Longfellow and Roosevelt elementary schools; a new Harding High School; renovations or additions to Central High and Black Rock schools; and new roofs for Bassick High and Dunbar Elementary schools.
Beginning in late 1999, one company–O&G Industries of Torrington, which recently supplied the above statistics–has run the show as Bridgeport’s schools program manager.
Full story here.
A contract of this type with a company like O&G is entirely appropriate and if managed properly, probably a very good tool for the city. It’s efficient and cost effective. That assumes though, someone is minding the store. There is no excuse however for no one, apparently no one, to have a handle on the terms, scope, duration, etc. of the contract. And we don’t even know if we have a contract–a signed contract in any event. Additionally, however good O&G or Gilbane or anyone similar is, the notion RFP’s aren’t from time to time necessary and productive is really offensive to taxpayers. How do we know what the market is or the quantity and quality of the work we’re receiving?
Looks like it takes Carmen Lopez to get folks to do the job they are either paid or elected to do. You can’t blame Tom McCarthy though. As the President of City Council, member of the Airport Commission and Deputy Labor Relations guy, he’s still investigating that $400,000 driveway he knew nothing about. Big job(s). A lot on his plate.
I hope the Council wakes up and ditto the Board of Ed. This city needs to be governed and every day there is another example of how it is not. If you don’t have a mayor who can get it right, then the BOE and the Council needs to step up. The Council needs to decide what those relevant committees are, the scope of each and show up and do their jobs. The Board of Ed has a good opportunity to provide input and oversight into these enormous capital expenditures. Time to step up–big time.
There is no one better than Carmen in researching an issue and connecting the dots. Do you know when a new school is being built or renovated, neither a principal, teacher, cafeteria aide, custodian nor parent is placed on the committee for these projects? Who knows what does or does not work in building or renovating a school more than those who spend countless hours in the building on an annual basis?
Pleasant surprise, Mayor Fabrizi required a bid process for contracts while he was in office.