That's right. Buried within pages and pages of checks written by the school district is one to Milio's. Thanks to the questioning of a detailed community member, an inquiry was made regarding check number 855855 in the amount of $209.11 to Milio's for the dreaded "Multiple Invoices".
What does "Multiple Invoices mean? Well it means you have go to another file "the Check Detail for 04-14-08". From this we get the information at right. That this is actually THREE checks made out to Milio's (SP-EYE: see the BAFFLE report for more info on that subject).
http://sp-eye.blogspot.com/2007/08/more-pizza-and-subs-for-district.html
Step 3 of the convoluted process is that someone has to make an inquiry to find out exactly what $44.70 for "HS Office Supplies" really means. Deputy District Administrator Phil Frei explained,
"Bray and Paul Keats met with staff regarding the new high school. In the past Paul Keats (via the district) would pick-up the bill for subs for the architect for one lunch and then Bray would pick-up the next bill."
The good news is that Frei added, "In the future all parties will pay for themselves each time."
The not-so-good news is that how did we come to this decision ONLY after an inquiry from a resident? Why isn't the Finance Committee looking into these expenditures? No one on Finance or the School Board even batted an eye, let alone asked a question. For new board member Terry Shimek, this is just one of those little expenses that he doesn't worry about. Who cares about $45 of taxpayer dollars? Who cares about a $300+ steak dinner for school board members? [SP-EYE note...why does it always seem to involve food???] As he indicated during his campaign, he's only concerned about the really big expenses. Newsflash, Terry. The little ones add up. And abuse is abuse. whether its a "small" one or a mega-scale one. And...shouldn't we be addressing the small abuses BEFORE they become large ones? You think former Governor Spitzer started out with $4500 call girls? Or did it start with something innocent like a lunch on the taxpayers?
Is this really only the tip of the iceberg? What other cozy arrangements are hidden inside our $65M annual budget.
What really should get one to wondering is how at Monday night's school board meeting, it was announced (with pride I might add) that it is anticipated that the new high school project will be under budget by....get this....about enough to build that pool (and operate it!) that got voted down in the recent referendum.
Many of us are not opposed to a pool, but, as Chris Mertes says, "This one doesn't pass the smell test".
Ok...so $45 lunches that we buy for the architect don't cause you any heartburn? Fine. Then how about this:
Despite School Board Policy DJ (Purchasing) which states,
Because the Board cannot relinquish its responsibility and accountability as an agent of the state and to the citizenry of the district, the following guidelines are established with regard to purchasing:
1. Bidding Approval
The Board shall approve any bids or quotations as required by state or federal law, and all quotations and/or bids greater than $25,000, except as otherwise provided. Any bid needing Board approval will first go to a Board sub-committee, when practical, for approval and then to the Board, unless it is an emergency purchase.
and in Procedure DJ-R(1) (Purchasing Procedures)
2. Except as provided in sub-section 1 (see below), no purchases shall be made for supplies, services, or equipment costing $25,000 or more unless competitive quotations or bids for those items are obtained, provided the purchase is a budgeted item and the purchase is approved by the Board.
1. Bids are not required for:
a. Instructional materials
b. Miscellaneous and operational supplies less than $5,000 or replacement parts
c. Prices from single source vendors.
d. Municipal/government/state or federal contracts.
e. Maintenance contracts of one year or less duration and less than $25,000
f. Used equipment ...
g. Negotiated purchases. ....where multiple bidders are not available
See anything there which suggests that the board isn't required to bid the architect out?
When asked, Caren Diedrich's response was that because Bray is the only architect "that really knows the school district's buildings" (gee...that's not because they built them all, is it?) then Bray qualifies as an exemption from bidding as a "sole source vendor" under 2.c above.
The school board did not put the architect out for bids. The jobs were handed to Bray without even thinking about getting a better price through a policy-mandated (never mind common sense fiscal responsibility!) competitive bid project .
...and THAT is what a $45 lunch of Milio's subs gets you.
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