RM 01-16-76 (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

6. NIEW BUSINESS (Cont'd living in these structures and the time is going to slip away, and true, it would help if we could shorten these things up, because if there is a situation here where damage is occurring, like leaking roofs, leaking plumbing fixtures -=this sort of thing- -you would have to estimate the amount of damage up to the time the guy would reach that point, and man, you would have to have a pretty good crystal ball for that! So,that you can expect to have a certain amount of this anyway you go. Our procedures for the protection of the Department and the people institute a lot of delays. This is part of the red tape; it's a part of what you pay for. Commissioner Cira stated that is bad and that we are wasting a lot of money. Mr. Brownell said he believed the other thing we should mention perhaps is the fact that the E -7 Program started with local funds appropriated by the City Council, and we are now changing over to Community Development funds, and there was a lack of funding in the beginning- -there was only $438,000= -and so some of the people who applied couldn't be taken care of immediately. Commissioner Robinson asked, "After they make that inspection, does this contractor bid it from just a sheet of paper, or what the inspectors tell him, or does he just go out -- physically go out and look at the structures before he bids on it. JJ and Mr. Brownell concurred that heis. supposed to go out and look at it. Commissioner Robinson added, "Then if he goes out and looks at it previous to bidding - -and it could run up to six months you are saying - -I still don't think that this condition should exist that much. If that guy is doing his job - -if he is bidding off of what you guys report, that is something else. Commissioner Wiggins said maybe the guy that looks at it closely didn't bid. Commis- sioner Robinson stated that maybe he realizes he doesn't have any competition; he doesn't have to; I don't know. Mr. John F. Lind- staedt, representing the Fair Tax Association and the Third District Citizens Council of St. Joseph County, said that this is the thing that bothers him a little bit -- looking at Madison Builders - - "it seems to me that what we are talking about is over - extending- -one bid over - extending itself, in the contracts. I see 10 contracts for Madison Builders; you are talking about a 30 -day deal. A lot of subcontractors are like that. What is to keep them from extend- ing this right down the line. I think something should be done to get more people to bid. I can't see giving a single bid without any competition. I agree with the gentlemen down there. In fair- ness to the public, and it also doesn't look good; let's face it -- and you say this gentleman once worked for the department. Mr. Butler's reply and question was, "John, are you meaning that be- cause he worked for the Department, that he is receiving the bids ?" Mr. Lindstaedt stated he did not mean that and it was not his intent, but the only thing - -as you say - -one man has all the expertise in this field, and, therefore, he is more apt to receive the bids. This is what I and these people are talking about. It seems in some of these cases, there is no bidding on the contracts. Commissioner Donaldson asked, "What do you do if the other contractors don't bid; what happens then ?" Mr. Lindstaedt said, "With the economy and the conditions, the point has been made. Truly, I think somewhere down - 21 -