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PUBLIC WORKS & PROPERTY VACATION NOVEMBER 12,2012 <br /> 4:35 P.M. <br /> Committee Members Present: Dr. David Varner, Oliver Davis, Gavin Ferlic <br /> Other Council Members Present: Tim Scott, Henry Davis, Dr. Fred Ferlic, <br /> Karen White, Derek Dieter <br /> Other Present: Gary Gilot, Linda Wolfson, Murray Miller, Glenda Rae Hernandez <br /> Agenda: Bill No. 12-79—Urging City to use MBE/WBE Contractors <br /> The one item on the agenda for Dr. Varner's Public Works & Property Vacation <br /> Committee was a resolution authorized by Councilmember Henry Davis, Jr.,urging the <br /> city administration to use minority or women owned contractors in the curb and sidewalk <br /> program. <br /> Dr. Varner called upon Gary Gilot to recount the way the program was run in the past and <br /> how it hopes to proceed in 2013. Gary said in recent years the curb and sidewalk <br /> program has been brought"in house"with much success. According to Gary more work <br /> was done of consistent quality with greater cost efficiency. The current approach was <br /> easier to manage and consistently received high marks for customer satisfaction. He <br /> stated that because the work was excellent and affordable to the public, there was a <br /> waiting list of applicants wanting the city to do the work. Nonetheless, he stated,he was <br /> devising a pilot program that would allow private contractors to bid on a portion of the <br /> work. The city would then measure costs and quality of the-work before expanding that <br /> approach. During Council comments, Henry Davis advocated the use of minority <br /> contractors if the city was serious about implementing the goals of the MBE/WBE <br /> legislation passed by the Council last year. During the public portion that followed Linda <br /> Wolfson advocated the need to make extra effort to encourage minority contractors. <br /> Union representative Murray Miller challenged the claim that the city could do the work <br /> cheaper. He said the city needs to account for all its costs besides labor and materials if <br /> private contractors are to compete with the city for work. <br /> Gavin Ferlic offered a motion to proceed favorably. Oliver Davis seconded. All <br /> affirmed. <br />