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Lisbon Town Manager Stephen G. Eldridge
MORE CORRUPTION IN LISBON
Right off the bat, I want to apologize for the length of this article but it cannot be helped. This needs to be said in its entirety. On September 17, 2013 at the Town Council meeting, one of the agenda items was the “winter sand bids”. The Town Manager presented the winter sand bids. Councilor Pesce said and I am quoting from the minute of the meeting. “Councilor Pesce pointed out that the sieve testing results were not submitted with Premier’s bid and that he just received them today. Mr. Eldridge said the testing company was at fault, the Premier Development submitted their sample but the testing company requested another one, and that this one was received late today so it was added to the agenda. Councilor Mason asked that the reason for the delay be verified. Councilor Pesce said because he just received this information that he was not comfortable making a decision tonight and requested this item be moved to the next agenda.” Councilors Garrison, LaRochelle, Mason, Lunt and Pesce voted to table this item until the next meeting.
Lisbon Town Councilor Dillon Pesce
At the October 1, 2013, the saga continues and here is what took place, again from the minutes. “Mr. Eldridge said this item was tabled at the last Council meeting. Ryan Leighton said RFPs were sent out to Carl Huston Excavating, Copp Excavating, Dube Gravel, Premier Development, and Pat Cry Trucking. Bids were received from Carl Huston Excavating, Dube Gravel, and Premier Development. He recommended Premier Development at $4.49 per yard.”
“Councilor LaRochelle said all of them have presented the criteria for sand. Mr. Leighton said yes, they have all presented passing analysis of the materials they intend to sell us. Councilor LaRochelle said so your recommendation is the low bid from Premier Development at $4.49 per yard. Mr. Leighton said low bid, closet pit to the shop.”
“Councilor Pesce said for the Premier Development test; it is on the back of Carl Huston’s bid and I don’t see anything filled in, like any sort of company that did the test. Mr. Leighton said Shaw Brothers. I contacted Premier Development and it was Shaw Brothers.”
“Councilor Pesce said I don’t have anything filled out on the bottom, nothing on the top. And the project is ETTI when it was submitted by Premier, so I don’t think this is filled out as it should be. All the others have very detailed companies with names and signature sand this one does not.”
“Councilor Ward said is that because this was the same one we used last year. Mr. Leighton said yes. Councilor Ward said how many years have we used them. Mr. Leighton said last year was the first year.”
“Councilor Ward said did we have some issues last year. Mr. Leighton said there were some questions when we first started hauling and they started taking material from a different stockpile and the material was fine. This year the material is better than what was presented last year.”
“Councilor Pesce said I think we should look at Carl Huston or Dube Gravel just because this is the second round with this and it still isn’t filled in.”
Once again, Councilor Pesce recognized the fact that Mr. Eldridge, Mr. Leighton, Councilors LaRochelle and Councilor Ward were trying to pull a fast one. Awarding the contract to Premier Development was not in the best interest of the town on so many different reasons.
Now I am going to provide information which has been obtained by several reliable sources. I cannot verify all of it at this time. The other day I was at the Transfer Station and I noticed they were delivering the winter sand and it looked like high quality sand. I asked about the sand and was told that Premier Development originally delivered the sand and when it was tested it failed two times. A decision was make to reject Premier Development and go with Carl Huston. Apparently, the sand was from Carl Huston’s pit. How they could deliver the sand before it was approved by the council is another mystery. I have been told that this will be on the next Town Council agenda.
I am amazed how easy Mr. Eldridge and Mr. Leighton can manipulate several members of the council with the exception of Councilors Pesce and Lunt. It sure is easy to see which councilors are members of the “Good Old Boys” network and which truly have the best interest of the town at heart. Councilor Pesce is very young in age but very wise when it comes to dealing with the truth. Councilor Pesce has the ability to see when Mr. Eldridge is trying to pull a fast one on the council. Councilor Pesce is always looking to do what is best for this community. Councilor Lunt on numerous occasions puts the best interest of the community at heart.
Lisbon Town Councilor Mark Lunt
The community should be proud of these two councilors and encourage other councilors to follow their lead.
Larry Fillmore
2 comments:
Larry,
I appreciate your qualification of your information as unverified but you are correct, the sand originally provided by Premier Development did not pass the sieve testing done by the town upon delivery.
The town council was made aware of the discrepancy on the 15th and while I believe it is on the agenda for the next meeting, the facts are simple, the town could not wait until the next meeting for the sand given the changes in current weather conditions.
Additionally, In accordance with Chapter 86 of the General Ordinance, Sec. 86-34. Paragraph (f) Purchases in excess of $10,000.00 shall require the approval of the town council. Since this contract is for less than $10K ($8925) it "technically" does not require council approval. The Town Manager went with the next lowest bid so I am unsure where the corruption would be.
Hindsight is almost always 20/20 and as I pointed out on September 17th the bid specifications, section 2.02 paragraph C, allows for the bid to be rejected if a sieve test is not submitted with the bid. While rejection is not required, had we simply rejected the Premier bid rather than table it, we would have no doubt selected the next lowest bid ... which is where we are today.
Gregg Garrison
Correction Greg. I was at both meetings, the first time the sand bid was on the agenda and the second when the TOWN COUNCIL approved the bid from Premier Development. Now, I like and respect the Kelly's, but their bid did NOT have the required specifications. The bid should NOT have been approved on that alone. Huston's bid was a little higher, but had ALL the specifications. As was mentioned at the meeting last night, the lowest is not always the best one.
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