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LP Councilman Questions Town's Bidding Process

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By BILL RETTEW JR.

Highlands Today

Published: August 13, 2008

LAKE PLACID - Steve Bastardi wondered whether the competitive bidding process should have been used when fellow council members outvoted him to spend $25,000 for grass surfacing at Lake June ball fields.

Six times, at Monday's meeting, town council voted to resurface the town ball fields, and all six times Councilman Bastardi was the lone dissenting voice.

Bastardi argued that state law dictates that town expenditures of more than $5,000 should be put out to bid.

When the role call vote was tabulated, and after the chuckles from the audience subsided, the council had decided to hire contractor Indian River Turf to plant a grass surface on three multipurpose sport fields, common areas and to spray for insects at the Lake June ball fields.

Bastardi objected not to the expenditure itself, but the process used.

The lone dissenter maintained that council acted "hastily" by voting for six separate projects, and instead should have put a single project out to bid.

Each of the six votes was for less than $5,000, but Bastardi said that the work should have been considered just one job.

Councilmen Ray Royce, Bill Brantley and Charles Wilson voted yes.

With all six votes, the council authorized a total expenditure of up to $25,000 from the town's general budget reserves to pay the contractor. John Komosa, recreation director, said this year's parks and recreation department budget for such projects was already exhausted.

"The six votes were procedurally incorrect," said Bastardi. "It's the cheating a little bit that offends me. The process was incorrect.

"It's like building a house room by room," he added.

Bert Harris III, town attorney, explained that the voting was done publicly and council decided that although one company was involved, six different votes were allowed.

"The town council gets to decide the scope of a project and to classify one project or to break it down into six projects," said Harris.

The first vote by council authorized the expenditure to place the turf on ball field No. 1, the second vote authorized payment for the same process for ball field No. 2 and the third vote will pay for a grass surface on ball field No. 3.

Payment of grass sprigging of common areas was agreed to on the fourth tally. With the fifth and sixth votes, the city voted to pay the contractor for two herbicide applications.

Harris argued that council could have rejected any one of the six separate motions, although council chose to accept each of the six proposals.

On Tuesday Royce said the process was "perfectly appropriate."

Royce noted that time was running short to assure that surfacing could occur during the rainy season. The bidding process would take several additional months.

The councilman was asked if bidding for a cheaper price might save taxpayer dollars.

"Public officials have the responsibility to see the overall picture, and what's in the best overall interest of all citizens," said Royce.

Bastardi told council that by delaying the process, county funding might become available, but not if council acted as it did on Monday.

Brantley estimated that more than 200 athletes wanted to use the fields and that only 10 percent of those ball players were Lake Placid town residents.

"We want to get this done," said Brantley on Tuesday. "And for us to step up to the plate."

Wilson voted to fund the projects.

"We have over 200 kids trying to play football in the dirt," said Wilson, on Monday. "It's tough economic times, but I'd rather have kids playing in that park than the alternative."

Royce suggested that Bastardi consult the town or county attorney if he disagreed with the legality of the council's action.

Bastardi said he still favors recreation.

"I'm not against the ball fields," said Bastardi. "I campaigned on a platform to provide jobs for the next generation."

Mayor Tom Katsanis talked about the park and said on weekend days it attracts more than 1,000 people to its lakeside location with playgrounds, a boat launch, a beach and ball fields.

"It's beautiful," said Katsanis, who only breaks tie votes. I'm glad we did give them the money so we can complete the project. It's a showpiece used by so many people."

Bill Rettew Jr. may be contacted at 386-5857 or wrettew@highlandstoday.com

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