Nov. 17, 2010
Huntington Council Chair Voted Against COOP Bid Due to Asserted Procedural Bid Opening Irregularity
Council Members “Too Nice”
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – A procedural deviation in the bid opening process resulted in the “NO” vote by council chairman James Insco on the Continuity of Operations Plan. Council passed the ordinance 10-1 on November 8, 2010, which awarded a grant based bid on the drafting of a catastrophic city operations / succession plan.
“They did not open the bids correctly,” Insco stated. “We had a letter from the fire chief to the purchasing director stating that three deputy chief’s and the fire chief were in a meeting and they opened the bids,” Insco said.
Bid openings procedurally require that a member of purchasing, a representative from the executive branch , and a member of the legislative branch be present. Insco explained that one of the two city clerk’s normally stand in as council’s representative. “Anytime you tell me there’s a $60,000 or $70,000 difference between the lowest bid and the second bid, you had better find out why,” he added.
Complicating the alleged procedural irregularity, “ there were no bid sheets [in our packet] signed by the individuals who were [at the bid opening],” Insco said.
At the meeting C. Craig Moore, fire chief, stated that he had done prior business with the current low bidder when he worked in New Port News , Virginia.
The chairman indicated that at the council meeting the bidding process was “asked about,” but he disagrees with the answer given at the meeting. “I had a sheet in my packet that said the direct opposite. You can ask council members, all of us had the same sheet.”
Insco stated he respected that “other members would do what they are going to do” Further, he stressed that his assertion did not allege a specific impropriety on anyone’s part, simply “the process was not followed. In my opinion, council should have an obligation to reject that [bid]. We have the right as council members to know whether procedures were followed or not, when you have documentation in front of you saying they were not, in my opinion, [council] needed to respond to that.”
ASKING TOUGH QUESTIONS
Insco stated that many council members are “too nice,” by not asking tough questions. “The best question that may have been asked in the last two years came from Jimmy Ritter at our last council meeting. He asked: What do you do when you find somebody doing work on their house, roof, or windows, on Friday, Saturday or Sunday? That’s a great question, and no one could answer it,” Insco said.
The ordinance on building permit requirements has changed. Previously, no permit was necessary if you did work on your own property yourself that was under $500.
“That is not the law. That used to be the law,” Insco stated. “You do anything in your house, you are supposed to have a permit.”
However, the current ordinance requires that a permit be obtained, even though there will be no charge if the aforementioned circumstances occur i.e. you do work on your property yourself that totals under $500.
“Otherwise, everybody would be doing $500 jobs,” Insco stated.
Speaking of council members, Insco believes there should have been “spoken up and supported Jimmy” Ritter’s inquiry.
Brandi Jacobs-Jones, director of administration and finance, told Ritter that “we send out some compliance officers periodically on Friday and Saturday.” Insco disagrees.
“If you were doing that you would make sure that people knew it. They would be more apprehensive about doing weekend jobs. What we need to do is set up a hotline , similar to a drug hotline, where people can phone in and report. Folks that are not getting a permit are breaking the law. Why not have a hotline system where the inspector could come in Monday morning and listen to the call(s) and follow up. He could go out to Property A which has a new roof on it. They don’t have a permit. Somebody should answer some questions. “
At the meeting, Ms. Jones stated that if a compliance officer found out about the work, they could issue a “stop order” until one is issued.
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Huntington Council Chair Voted Against COOP Bid Due to Asserted Procedural Bid Opening Irregularity
Council Members “Too Nice”
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – A procedural deviation in the bid opening process resulted in the “NO” vote by council chairman James Insco on the Continuity of Operations Plan. Council passed the ordinance 10-1 on November 8, 2010, which awarded a grant based bid on the drafting of a catastrophic city operations / succession plan.
“They did not open the bids correctly,” Insco stated. “We had a letter from the fire chief to the purchasing director stating that three deputy chief’s and the fire chief were in a meeting and they opened the bids,” Insco said.
Bid openings procedurally require that a member of purchasing, a representative from the executive branch , and a member of the legislative branch be present. Insco explained that one of the two city clerk’s normally stand in as council’s representative. “Anytime you tell me there’s a $60,000 or $70,000 difference between the lowest bid and the second bid, you had better find out why,” he added.
Complicating the alleged procedural irregularity, “ there were no bid sheets [in our packet] signed by the individuals who were [at the bid opening],” Insco said.
At the meeting C. Craig Moore, fire chief, stated that he had done prior business with the current low bidder when he worked in New Port News , Virginia.
The chairman indicated that at the council meeting the bidding process was “asked about,” but he disagrees with the answer given at the meeting. “I had a sheet in my packet that said the direct opposite. You can ask council members, all of us had the same sheet.”
Insco stated he respected that “other members would do what they are going to do” Further, he stressed that his assertion did not allege a specific impropriety on anyone’s part, simply “the process was not followed. In my opinion, council should have an obligation to reject that [bid]. We have the right as council members to know whether procedures were followed or not, when you have documentation in front of you saying they were not, in my opinion, [council] needed to respond to that.”
ASKING TOUGH QUESTIONS
Insco stated that many council members are “too nice,” by not asking tough questions. “The best question that may have been asked in the last two years came from Jimmy Ritter at our last council meeting. He asked: What do you do when you find somebody doing work on their house, roof, or windows, on Friday, Saturday or Sunday? That’s a great question, and no one could answer it,” Insco said.
The ordinance on building permit requirements has changed. Previously, no permit was necessary if you did work on your own property yourself that was under $500.
“That is not the law. That used to be the law,” Insco stated. “You do anything in your house, you are supposed to have a permit.”
However, the current ordinance requires that a permit be obtained, even though there will be no charge if the aforementioned circumstances occur i.e. you do work on your property yourself that totals under $500.
“Otherwise, everybody would be doing $500 jobs,” Insco stated.
Speaking of council members, Insco believes there should have been “spoken up and supported Jimmy” Ritter’s inquiry.
Brandi Jacobs-Jones, director of administration and finance, told Ritter that “we send out some compliance officers periodically on Friday and Saturday.” Insco disagrees.
“If you were doing that you would make sure that people knew it. They would be more apprehensive about doing weekend jobs. What we need to do is set up a hotline , similar to a drug hotline, where people can phone in and report. Folks that are not getting a permit are breaking the law. Why not have a hotline system where the inspector could come in Monday morning and listen to the call(s) and follow up. He could go out to Property A which has a new roof on it. They don’t have a permit. Somebody should answer some questions. “
At the meeting, Ms. Jones stated that if a compliance officer found out about the work, they could issue a “stop order” until one is issued.
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