I guess in City Councilor Joe Mendonca’s case “Ultimately the owner of the project is responsible for what happens on his project” only applies to former City Councilor Alan Kazanjian and a sewer tie in not the City of Lowell charging private businesses $2,475.00 for a Fire Alarm Box while hiding a letter from the Inspector General siting the process was flawed and “was not advantageous for the businesses and citizens of Lowell”
He didn’t seem to have any issue at last night’s city council meeting, voting NO to having a Special Meeting to address this letter from the State Inspector General sent to the Purchasing Agent and City Solicitor, that now the City Manager and CFO want everyone to believe they never saw!
A Letter stating:
“This was not advantageous for the businesses and citizens of Lowell” or the letter stated
In fact, the City advised this Office that one municipal user complained of “price gouging” by East Coast.
Lowell’s confused procurement did not comply with M.G.L. c.30B
In addition, the City apparently mishandled the process of evaluating the minor informality standard; and did not comply with M.G.L. c.30B rules relative to contract changes.
If Lowell had decided on the basis of price alone, the procurement might not have been considered prejudicial to competition. However, the specifications did not afford a way to meaningfully compare different systems that were proposed by vendors.
The disparity in proposal price of more than $300,000 suggests the City’s solicitation documents did not contain specificity as to what it wanted to purchase. The vagueness of the specification contributed to the myriad deficiencies this Office has found with City’s procurement.
For example, the City did not call for itemization of the installation and maintenance services and equipment to be provided. East Coast’s price of $77,849 was for everything.
None of that bothers Councilor Joe as much has a former city councilor ignoring a decree from the City Engineer who the councilor apparently thinks her decisions are much more important and vital than the State Inspector General.
“The city’s denial was ignored and I think that is very arrogant,” said Mendonca
But I guess Joe thinks ignoring the State Inspector General is okay??? He didn’t say anything last night to make me think otherwise.
Seriously Gerry, did we actually need a “Special Meeting”‘? You know this will be discussed for the next 8 weeks anyway. The Joe shot, alittle silly- the guy is just trying to think stuff out, instead of “overreacting” [bold yours]. Honestly, you know as well as I do, this thing is gonna be so politically mangled when “you guys” [that would be bold mine] are done with it… Whether its your side, their side or stuck in the middle… No one’s gonna have a clue.
Long & short knife methods of engaging local politicians and hysterical innuendo media… is really what’s not advantageous for the businesses and citizens of Lowell. peace
YES ! i HAVE A huGE ISSUE WITH THIS LETTER AND THE SEEMINGLY DISRECARD THIS ADMINISTRATION AND COUNCIL SEEMS TO HAVE FOR IT.
I can’t understand why joe M. things a decree from the Engineer is more important that the State Inspector general??
Listen to my ranting this saturday on WCAP’s Saturday Morning Live!
You’ll notice I didn’t speak to the point. I may have the same questions as you, but think they might get answered in a more reasonable way. I did notice that you missed my point. Let’s all hope John Leahy can fill a huge void left by Kevin- a regular guy. Not enough of them left willing to deal with HUGE FONT bloggers, political neighborhood groups, the lowell sun, business owners & developers, residents of belvy, attorneys and the cast of cocoon on cable access TV.
Who’s left Gerry? Oh ya the rest of us.
I’ll stick with Teddy on the weekdays and we have an organized park cleanup, thanks tho. Enjoy your rant, hope they like it.