As a law enforcement probe widens into allegations involving the city’s construction management program and Minority Business Enterprise contracting, Mayor Bill Finch has brought in a law firm to conduct a review. From the mayor:
Mayor Bill Finch today announced that the City has retained an independent law firm with 50 years of cumulative experience conducting state and federal criminal investigations, and which is the largest state-certified Minority Business Enterprise law firm in New England, to conduct a thorough review of the City’s minority contracting ordinance and compliance.
In addition to providing an independent evaluation of the probe initiated by the Mayor’s Office and conducted by the City’s Labor Relations office and the police department, the Crumbie Law Group will be making policy and enforcement recommendations to further ensure that all contracting provisions are properly followed.
The two lead attorneys working on this case will be Andrew R. Crumbie and his colleague Henri Alexandre. Their bios follow.
Attorney Andrew R. Crumbie is the founder and owner of Crumbie Law Group, LLC. Prior to starting the firm, Andrew worked in state and federal law enforcement for 20 years. Beginning his law enforcement career with the Connecticut State Police, Andrew served as Detective, Sergeant, Chief of Staff to the Commissioner, and Deputy Commissioner of the Division of Scientifics Services. For several years, Andrew was assigned to the Connecticut Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), as a Task Force agent where he worked closely with the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
As detective, Andrew conducted background investigations for licensure of executive employees for Connecticut’s gaming industry. Here, Andrew assisted in developing risk mitigation policies, regulatory structures, and conducted criminal investigations into fraud, forgery, bribery, counterfeiting, racketeering, and related white collar crimes in the gaming industry.
In this work with the FBI and the Office of the United States Attorney, Andrew participated in and conducted grand jury investigations into national criminal organizations. As Chief of Staff to the State Police Commissioner, he assisted in the day to day management of 1800 staff department of sworn police officers and civilian staff.
Attorney Henri Alexandre is a well-established and highly respected trial attorney with over 27 years at the Connecticut Bar. Most recently, Attorney Alexandre served as Department Head in the office of the State Attorney General. In this role, Attorney Alexandre managed a large team of Assistant Attorneys General and support staff in defending various state public safety agencies including the State Police, Department of Corrections, Board of Pardons and Paroles, Office of Adult Probation, and Board of Firearms and Permit Examiners. In addition to serving in his various leadership roles in the OAG, Attorney Alexandre tried many cases to the court and to jury verdict in state and federal court and argued numerous appeals in the Connecticut Supreme Court and Appellate Court as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
In his over 25 years working in the OAG, Attorney Alexandre has litigated issues and supervised investigations in some of the most significant cases in Connecticut’s recent history. Attorney Alexandre’s work at the OAG has had far-reaching impact on policies at the highest levels of state government.
As a result of his admiration for his community, Henri has given back in several ways. Henri serves on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Legal Services, the Connecticut Haitian-American Organization and has previously served on the Board of Directors for the Community Health Center in Hartford, CT and as Chairman of the City of Hartford, Human Relations Commission. He also been a guest lecturer, at the University of Hartford, on Haitian history, politics, culture and current events. Henri speaks French and is fluent in Haitian Creole. Henri received a Juris Doctor from the University of Connecticut, School of Law, in 1982 and a Bachelors of Art in Psychology from Central Connecticut State University in 1976.
What process does the City use in making such a hire of legal counsel? It does not appear this firm is being hired to represent the City, but rather to look at the way our MBE system works (or does not work, as the case may be). Who advised the City originally on the establishment of the process and the Office? And who within the City has evaluated it each year and by what criteria determined it is effective, efficient and ethical, at least?
If I understand the larger story, City employees are on paid leave, pending an investigation by what authority or department, and for what activities? Who is minding the store in that area in the meantime? Can anyone report on the range of activities and duties worked on by those being investigated?
What’s the full story? Does the appointment of this MBE-certified law firm mean the City is already aware there is a large problem to remediate in our fiscal governance process? Time will tell.
The full story is Finch has to make some gesture that he is actually doing something about this mess and he has to protect the dept heads (some who are cabinet-level positions) who were responsible for overseeing the MBE office to make sure SHIT LIKE THIS DOESN’T HAPPEN.
This is what happens when the city is run by incompetent political appointees. You can cover up some shit for awhile but sooner or later it comes to light. That time is now. The employees have all seen this coming but were afraid to speak up. This is just the tip of the iceberg. There are scandals brewing in many depts. Mark my words.
I am so embarrassed to say I am from Bridgeport. This will probably make O’Reilly again or the late-night comedians. What an embarrassment.
Our PD is investigating (the chief just got a nice contract paying him his pension while collecting his salary). Can’t see any big fish being hooked.
While we are broke we now hire a law firm to look into this mess? You know a recommendation not on their list will be hooking a big fish.
File under same shit different day.
We don’t need a lawyer, the people who are guilty of any crimes need a lawyer. What we need is a mayor with balls to send this to the proper authorities to prosecute the guilty.
I’m surprised Finch didn’t give this job to Charlie Carroll also, but then again he may have had to defend himself too.
He picked a minority law firm to convince people he was giving a minority firm a piece of the pie and he is living up to city ordinance. Bill are you giving them 25% of the job as a sub to G Pic and Sons or just running the money through them? Remember the percentage for women, they’d better put a female atty on board Bpt resident.
*** A much-needed study to help clean up another fine city mess that will cost taxpayers in the long run, no? *** It’s a start! ***
BEACON2, your question is who is minding the store while they are out on paid leave; strange you should ask, it’s Charlie Carroll who is minding the store. He is the Butcher, The Baker, The Candlestick Maker and The Fox Guarding The Hen House.
I kid you not, you can’t make up shit like this. It would be funny in a movie but it isn’t; it’s sad and it’s happening in OUR CITY OF BRIDGEPORT. We are the laughing stock of the country. Somewhere in our country the news is saying do you want to know what happened in Bridgeport CT? Now you’re not going to believe this story and they say yes we will.
*** Think happy thoughts, OIB bloggers! ***
This is one incestuous situation. The MBE office, construction services staff, Nyborg owner, O & G and the people who should be monitoring these programs (CitiStat {joke}, MBE, CAO, CC, OPM) all work in the same building. They see each other every day. I do not blame the low-level employees. They did this up front in plain site of everyone. Not like CC didn’t know; he was pushing contractors for Mario. Not like the director of MBE didn’t know Nybor’s owner was an employee; they talked several times a week. Not like CAO didn’t know; he oversees MBE office. What’s their excuse?
The legit minority companies should rise up and demand justice. So should the black and Latino members of the city council. The MBE office actually sanctioned pass-through companies so the non-minority companies would keep getting the big jobs. White companies loyal to the DTC keep getting richer. Ain’t that a kick in the ass. Hey Bill, what would RFK have to say about this?
I believe this is the FIRST minority law firm hired by the city of Bridgeport since the Minority Contracting Ordinance was approved.
Mark Anastasi claims the city charter empowers him to hire anyone he wants and he is not constrained by any other ordinance. He does not have to solicit bids, he does not have to abide by MBE guidelines, he does not have to involve any other city employees or boards, i.e. Public Purchases.
And these all-encompassing powers are not limited to law firms but any service contracts he feels he needs to do his job. And if the council thinks he is overstepping his authority, then you have to ask him to agree with you and then he will hire an attorney of his choosing to determine if he is right.
OIB
And I believe the only outside investigation Finch needs to request is the FBI.
Bring the real men in and not the former agents and let the chips fall where they may.
OK boys and girls, gather ’round and I will tell you a story about the city of Bridgeport and the hiring of minority legal counsel.
Once upon a time long, long, long ago in the beginning daze of the Finch Administration, the mayor proclaimed there would be an open and fair process of putting out to bid the contract for Bond Counsel.
People praised the mayor for taking such unprecedented steps in an effort to find the best and the brightest of law firms. And a total of three firms responded. And lo and behold the city attorney selected the firm of Pullman & Comley which just happened to employ Finch campaign strategist and political loyalist John Stafstrom.
And when Mark Anastasi presented his recommendation to the council he assured everyone this firm was the most qualified respondent.
I asked how many minority firms put in a bid and was told none but Mr. Anastasi assured me there were minority lawyers who worked for this firm.
I pointed out to the city attorney the RFP required all respondents be listed in the national registry of bond counsels. I asked the city attorney how many minority law firms are listed in the guide and he told me he didn’t know and he didn’t care. He did not have to abide by the Minority Contracting Ordinance according to his interpretation of the city charter.
And besides the firm he chose was a Bridgeport business and that was more important to him.
I attempted to get the council to reject the contract and to rebid the work noting any firm that included language that would agree to subcontract work to a minority firm would receive preference. The mayor, the law firm and the city council ignored my request.
And so boys and girls that IS the history of the Finch Administration and the hiring of minority law firms. That is, until this firm was hired as more of a Public Relations Firm than actual legal counsel.
Why are we hiring another outside law firm? How much is this going to cost us? It was not the rules that were bad it was the people overseeing the rules.
How come the people at the top did not pick up this fraud? How come none of the people at the top are being suspended?
What are we paying O & G for, isn’t it for contract compliance? BTW that brings up another point. why does O & G have an office in city hall annex? Why are they allowed to bid on city contracts? Seems like that should also be looked into.
We were told recently we need to increase the pay of all these appointees so we can retain their expertise. How’s that going now? This is just the tip of the iceberg, take a look at most departments and you will find incompetence at the top and no one gives a shit. You want to see incompetence check out the PD, we have more damn officers from sgt on up than we do patrolmen, well that’s a bit of an exaggeration but we do have 1 officer for every 4 patrolmen. Had a car stolen lately? Had a car vandalized lately? Had a car that was involved in a hit and run lately? The list goes on and on. You will not see a patrolman, you will get a report number and told to pick up a report. What kind of policing is this?
The whole damned city is being managed by incompetents.
Watch as Finch’s Cookies start to CRUMBLE!
Totally off topic: I really like John Bohannon. His wife is terrific but for full disclosure purposes it should be noted she has been named to the Charter Revision Committee under her legal last name of Simpson.
A friend suggested the process of Charter Review is critical to creating positive governance, development and financial strength in a municipality.
Lots of criteria can be suggested for choosing the people, including whether they volunteered to serve. (In that regard Adam Wood indicated ten responses had been received by the Mayor. Seven people were selected. I am aware of five people who volunteered, none of whom were selected. Do the math.)
The suggested criteria included absolute independence from receiving City revenue whether as employee, consultant or vendor. In that case the selection of at least two people has to be questioned as there is a strong potential for an appearance of conflict of interest. Can anyone avoid voting their ‘pocketbook’ if it comes down to that? Since the City Council and administration are likely to cover the Charter committee anyway, and have ultimate vote and/or veto, why are two members compromised in this way from the start?
A second criterion would be party affiliation. While Democrat/Republican registration figures to be about 10/1, what consideration was given to the large unaligned or Independent registration in the City?
Finally, diversity, intelligence and wisdom capacity and the ability to sell ultimate recommendations to the public were also suggested. How does this group look in these terms? I know not one well enough to determine such an answer.
Can anyone else suggest criteria or comment upon the Chosen Seven? The Ordinance Committee is moving rapidly once again, and will move the issue on Tuesday evening. Time will tell.
Well I think the charter needs to be tweaked. I am not sure we need a wholesale change. This administration ignores the present charter when it’s against what they want to do, just ask Mark Anastasi.
There were many more than 10 applicants for this job but for the most part they were turned away. Adam Wood as usual is full of shit.
They stacked this so Finch will have a greater say in the BOE. You can bet the ranch on the fact they will be looking for a four-year term for our do-nothing council people.
They will not prohibit city employees from serving on the council. They will not put in a recall provision and they will not put in a Finance Board.
They will be looking for more power centralized in the mayor’s office. It’s a joke.
Bob Walsh, I must re-post what you wrote again because it is so important.
Mark Anastasi acts and rules like he is the late J Edgar Hoover former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, he answered to NO ONE, not Congress, not the Justice Department and not whoever the President of the United States was at any time. He has put the fear of god into the City Council so they will never challenge him on anything. He can not produce in writing what gives him the power he enforces on the City Council, the BOE, department heads and commissions. He is nothing more than a “DICTATOR.” No mayor will challenge him because he does their dirty work and then speaks on their behalf.
Look, we all know Bill Finch is not that smart to put forth the overthrow of the BOE, the pay raises, allowing the fire chief and police chief to get pay raises and their disability pension and keep their jobs and Charter Review, all of this is way over Bill Finch. Who else along with Mark Anastasi is orchestrating this coup over the residents of Bridgeport?
Now we know why Finch hired this high-priced law firm. It is not to identify guilty parties, it is to perform a whitewash of the worn doings going on at City Hall.
From an article Keila Torres had in the CT Post:
Only Bridgeport and New Haven have an exception that allows employees to make transactions or contracts obtained in an “open and public process” like a competitive or informal bid.
“You can do it if there is full disclosure, if there is not a conflict,” said Bridgeport Associate City Attorney Ronald Pacacha. “In other words, if you don’t have an effect over the award. If you own a security company and the health department needs to hire security and you bid on it, you can win the bid. But there still has to be full disclosure.”
Read more: www .ctpost.com/local/article/Can-city-workers-win-city-contracts-2533488.php
An attorney for the city of Bridgeport, who reports to Mark Anastasi, who hired this independent law firm, is on record saying this practice is OK.
This practice is utter BS. Bring in the FBI TODAY.
What Ron Pacacha is saying is it is alright for Mark Anastasi to give Ron a contract for outside legal services, even if it isn’t advertised, as long as Mark knows it is Pacacha doing the work.
This is obscene.
So let me get this straight … you have a law firm with 50 year’s cumulative experience in this field? So if there are 50 lawyers in this firm, does that mean each lawyer has one year of experience here? It seems one has 20 year’s experience. How does that affect the experience level with the rest of the lawyers in this firm?
Hey Lennie, who writes this stuff?
Bullshit is right. If Ron Pacacha says there is no law broken, then why are three city employees still out on suspension being slammed in the newspaper like they are criminals? The spirit of the MBE ordinance was obviously violated but that was done under the direction of the director of the MBE office and she is still working, not being accused of anything. Is this because her daughter is Mr. Osborne’s secretary? This stinks of Mr. Osborne once again protecting people he likes and going after people he doesn’t no matter what the evidence (or lack of) presents. I hope the three employees have a good lawyer.
Mr. Osborne has a conflict of interest himself and should immediately remove himself from this investigation.
This is not my battle but just for kicks I googled the Southern CT Black Chamber of Commerce, the chamber which certified Nybor and refused comment to the CT Post. Guess who is the secretary of the organization? Debra Caviness, the director of the city’s MBE office. Come on Lennie, Keila, CT Post, do some investigative reporting here. Do I have to write the whole damn article for you?
Ray says: Hey Fixer, if you write it and it conforms to good journalistic standards, we’ll run it!
And talk about investigative reporting, can we get an impartial opinion of this law firm?
How many investigations like this have they conducted?
How many have resulted in arrests?
How many were simply cover-ups for the government body that hired them?
You want impartial, bring in the FBI. Where are agents Halpin and Jensen when you need them?
From their own website:
Crumbie Law Group is the largest state-certified minority business enterprise (MBE) law firm in New England. Our firm was formed in February 2008.
THREE YEARS OLD!!!
To increase the capacity and depth of our law firm’s services, Crumbie Law Group recently has formed a strategic alliance with Hinckley, Allen, & Snyder, LLP. HAS is a 130-lawyer law firm with offices throughout four New England states.
DOESN’T THIS SOUND LIKE THEY ARE A FRONT FOR A LARGE WHITE LAW FIRM???
From We the People blogspot:
wethepeoplehartford.blogspot.com/2010/10/in-some-circles-this-might-be-called.html
OFF TOPIC … Does anyone have an inside contact at RBS? I know someone who is looking to obtain a decent inside contact.