Politics & Government

New Bond Counsel Will Save Town Money

And the town is also looking to make a few extra bucks auctioning surplus.

 

In addition to the discussion over the s, two other items came out of last week’s Finance Committee meeting; one was blessed by the Town Council Monday night and the other, let’s just say, if all goes well, the town could be seeing some green for getting paid stuff it doesn’t use, need or want anymore.

First up, the Council voted to okay a request to don a one-time-only bid waiver to hire bond counsel. Normally the process would go out to bid, or just stay with the firm that’s already on the job. But when Town Finance Director Terry Hart noticed that some offers came in at several thousand dollars below what the town would have paid for the firm on board, she suggested the town consider waving the bidding process, and if it chose to, grab the Hartford-based bond counsel firm that under bid by some $7,000 the current company’s price.

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“Some quotes cam in and I began to question …” why pay more for the same services. Though Hart had no complaint about the company the town is using now: “I have no issue with their performance,” she said, “their price is $7,000 more.”

For at least one councilor the measure was “a no brainer.”

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But Councilor Chuck Loughton questioned whether the council had the authority under the charter to waive a bid, saying the charter only allows it if “harm” should result.

Town Council President Candy Buebendorf quickly made her position clear: “If you consider (unnecessarily spending) a few thousand (dollars) harm then yes. I intend to vote for this.”

Hart said in an email to Patch in response to clarification, that the council “did not formally recommend a firm. It was understood that we will be hiring Updike, Kelly and Spellacy at the rate of $10,000.”

The town is posed to see bonds sold Aug. 22.  The $12.1 million bond issue will cover capital projects and the public safety building, Hart said.

Speaking of bidding

Call it the eBay of government surplus. According to their web site, municibid.com “is an online government auctions website designed for government surplus,” that’s open to the public. Which means the town sells its surplus to recoup some of its investment and the buyer gets a good deal on, well, government surplus. Furniture, equipment, vehicles, tools, electronics, computers…you get the idea.

According to Hart, she’ll be working with Director of Public Works Donald W. Bourdeau, Jr. on this project, and she said, they “hope to get some items on (the website and ready for bidding) by the end of the month.”

Sounds like a win-win.

 


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