City Council Votes to Make Economic Development a “Professional Service” in Special Meeting
December 30th, 2014 by Joe Burgess
In a special meeting of the City Council, called by 3 of its members, Monday night, the topic of the “economic development” bid (and how it was handled at last weeks meeting) was discussed in depth.
At one point alderman Cedric Leonars described the groups earlier decision as, “Eight blind people up here that don’t know what’s going on,” referring to the council handling of bid contracts presented by MEDC and Mays & Associates for the city’s economic development.
Both organizations submitted proposals to the city, after a description of requested services was published. Mays bid included services that were included in the city’s request. The MEDC’s response included other services, which they are currently providing, but which were not included in the city’s request.
Al Peer said, “An injustice was done to the MEDC, May’s & Associates, and the City of Monticello.”
Cedric Leonard said, “The law says we should’ve taken the low bid.”
Joe Meeks suggested canceling both bids, and rebidding (with a corrected description).
In the 3rd video, the “professional services” exemption from bids is discussed, and around the 6:00 minute mark, Hartness resends a motion, that is later argued that she didn’t resend. That leads to Leonard’s motion being bypassed.
Other topics during the meeting included the spec building (it’s intended purpose and history) and it’s potential attraction to an industry; and the MEDC’s board of directors.
At the start of final video, Al Peer describes this meeting as, “We’re just digging a deeper grave.”
After multiple motions, and resending of those motions, Claudia Hartness made the motion to “Move forward with the motion we’ve already voted on (last week), awarding the contract to the MEDC.”
Following the tone of the earlier discussion in the meeting, City attorney Witt Barton asked her, “Do you want to include in your motion,” that the council “Accept the MEDC contract, and make the services of an economic development office a professional services contract?” Hartness agreed and the vote passed 6-2. Councilmen Leonard and Peer were they 2 opposing votes.
Throughout the meeting, everyone was complentary on the success of the MEDC. Patricia Mays & Associates’ proposal was also complimented for its insight. The only negative points were toward Mays, when Claudia Hartness criticized her employment history and that no references were included in her proposal.
After this decision, the “yearly contract for economic development” has been abolished. It will now be handled on a “request for proposal” basis.
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Was Mrs. Mays able to see the MEDC budget/bid before she put in her bid? If so then she or anyone else could have put in a bid lower than MEDC’s just to under bid them. Where MEDC put in their bid as to what it cost to do the job they have been doing. I don’t see people complaining when jobs are brought to Monticello. I don’t know about everyone else but I think I could find table cloths and banners cheaper than 10,000.00! To me it sounds like Mr. Leonard is looking out for Mrs. Mays and not the city. He voted for MEDC in the first vote but now he wants to come back and question the vote? He should have been confident in his vote the first time! If you want to talk about needing new council members, let’s start with ones that are confident in their vote and not change their mind. If the council was not ready to vote on it, they should not have voted on it. They say they have to take the lowest qualified bid. Where is the PROOF that makes Mrs. Mays qualified? She is LLC and MEDC is nonprofit. There are grants out there that she cannot apply for because she is not NON PROFIT! That means if things are going to keep happening for Monticello, where is the money going to come from? Higher taxes? Cut in budgets? Cut in jobs? Cut in growth? IF IT’S NOT BROKE DON’T FIX IT! Because if you try, you are going to make it worse!
So the City council members still do not know what they are voting on, and P.F. Mays & Associates is still not getting fair treatment. And you still have “Eight blind people that don’t know what’s going on”. Typical.
A “request for proposal” basis may be good unless you still have the blind leading the blind. What has the MEDC “economically developed”?
Quote: “Other topics during the meeting included the spec building (it’s intended purpose and history) and it’s potential attraction to an industry; and the MEDC’s board of directors.” I don’t imagine that topic of conversation took very long. As far as I can tell, there is no purpose or history to the building and it certainly hasn’t attracted any industry to Monticello in the many years it’s has been sitting there vacant.
KIND OF SOUNDS AS IF THE BLIND WERE LEADING THE BLIND!!! LOL!!!!!!:-)
Sounds like a regular council meeting to me, duh which way do I vote, which way do I vote, they are eight blind leading the blind idiots.
The only way we can have change for the better in Monticello is for responsible people who are independent thinkers to run against some of these ancient followers who have been on the City Council most of their lives. Why do we sit and complain about the way things are in our city and county and then do nothing at election time. If you do not like the way things are going, run for office. Get involved and help make changes. I believe that Mrs. Mays would have done an excellent job for the city, but the establishment is so afraid to let in new blood that she will probably never have a chance.
Yes, the spec building has truly attracted a lot of businesses hasn’t it? I totally agree with your comments “Taxpayer Mom”. But the “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it” attitude is usually disastrous. That’s for people who do not want change and are absolutely content with mediocrity.
. as an example of good ol’ boy political cronie-ism at its best! Take a look at who is on the MEDC Board of Directors. It’s a veritable Who’s Who of Monticello. I could not even remotely imagining the Council voting against them.
And now they’ve fixed it so they don’t have to be bothered with outsiders trying to bid on any of their jobs.
As for criticizing Cedric Leonard, he’s new, yes, but he’s asking some VERY good questions. The only time he goes wrong is when he goes along with the consensus of the “old timers.”
As for who’s voting blindly, look no further than the water mess with Siemens. That’s what the wisdom of the “old timers” did for the City!
I could mention how they refused to cooperate with our most recent mayor, and were quite smug in how they were able to thwart his work. I lost a tremendous amount of respect for them, while observing their dealings with Mayor Rogers. It appeared to me they were way more concerned about their own personal feelings and agendas, than the well-being of the City.
This whole situation is being processed in a suspicious manner either because of incompetence or malfeasance.
I suggest that Ms Mays bring this situation to the proper law enforcement and legal authorities.