Having listened and read so much harping on "revitalizing" downtown and helping downtown businesses and wanting business in New Albany, why then did we break the law (again) and not let the Dive Shop on State Street make any bids on the equipment the fire department bought?
Indiana Law clearly states, under Public Purchasing, IC 5-22 the following paragraph:
For purchases of supplies between $25,000 and $75,000, the purchasing agent MUST mail a request for bids to at least three vendors at least seven days before the time fixed for receiving quotes. For purchases of supplies over $75,000, a more elaborate bidding procedure is used, including publication in the newspaper two times.
Well, the publication in the newspaper occurred two times, once on February 4, 2007 and again on February 11, 2007. The legal read the hearing would be at the City Council meeting at 7:15 last night about the appropriation of the monies being used for such expenditures.
By February 9, 2007, a press conference was held showing and listing what all we bought for that $187,000.00 and pictures appeared in the Tribune with Mayor Garner in the middle of same.
So, not only did they not put out RFP's or bids, they mis-appropriated the money by not going before Council first.
The Seaweed Dive Shop didn't even have a chance. What happened to all the clamor I've been reading, hearing and talking about supporting New Albany business? Help New Albany rebuild business?
Two separate laws broken on this occasion, but hey, I guess they are ALL above the law. Do you think they just "forget" it is OUR money? Or, do you think they just DON'T CARE? Or do we, as citizens and taxpayers, just not care?
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P.S. Even though the Mayor was pictured front and center in the Tribune's picture of all of the new purchases, last night he said he "didn't know anything about it". Hmmmmmm.
Kay Garry spoke at the meeting last night. She said that none of the individual items cost $25,000 so it was not necessary to ask for bids.
She also said Mr. Carl said the prices at the shop on State St. were too high. At this the owners said they were not given an opportunity to give a quote for bulk purchases.
Shirley
How much, if any, is spent at Wal-Mart?
If all that is true Shirley, then why did she spend the money to run the legals that appeared in the Tribune on Feb 4 and Feb 11? Does the right hand not know what the left hand is doing? Which is it? She advertised public could speak about this issue at 7:15 last night...yet, the money was already spent.
Interesting, just gets more interesting...
New Albanian, You would have to go through "claims" for that info. My personal pocketbook monies don't go there.
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