Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Video is Back! City Commission Discusses Awarding Delinquent Tax Collection Contract~June 5, 2012


In these exchanges the commissioners question why the three competing firms did not give presentations before the city commission.  Instead, an "independent" committee vetted the three legal firms, giving its unanimous recommendation to the commission.  This is a big departure from the way such contracts have been handled in the past.  It is a blatant attempt to take away the appointment from the commissioners and give it to a secret committee.  This progression has been noted during Tony Martinez' tenure as mayor.

7 comments:

  1. This is unbelievable! The city commission has already given up their responsibility for their districts, now they are giving up responsibility for major city business like tax collecting? Where are Bobby Lackner, Harry McNair and Tony Zavaleta when we need them?

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  2. This is BULL SHIT!!!

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  3. "Instead, an "independent" committee vetted the three legal firms, giving its unanimous recommendation to the commission. This is a big departure from the way such contracts have been handled in the past. "

    Sorry, Jim, but as far as I can tell the 2009 evidence, from pages 137-141, just doesn't bear that out.

    The evaluation, in 2009, committee made their recommendation based on scores and the commission voted in favor of that recommendation. Item 15 in the minutes, specifically.

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  4. Chris,

    Didn't Commissioners Zamora and Gowen both say that the commission had heard actual presentations from the competing legal firms at the last juncture?

    Jim

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  5. Indeed, they did, Jim. And Chosy gave them a valid answer: the last juncture was the first time the city, via evaluation committee recommendation and commission approval, could award the contract to a firm of their choosing, and not just go with whom the Count Commissioners Court had selected.

    And that basic process: committee evaluation and commission approval of their recommendation has not (nor should it be, IMHO) changed. Despite Comm. Zamora's demand for a micromanaging table (song &) dance at a subsequent meeting.

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    1. City officials need micromanaging, especially with the slop Robert C. Luna has brought before the commission; phony sole-source contracts for the Escobedos, misrepresentation of the number of contractors contacted, the number of qualified contractors, etc.

      Nothing should be taken at face value in this, the poorest of cities with a history of calabaza.

      Jim

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  6. Commissioners are not elected to be rubber stamps. I agree that committees are needed for this but it's the city commission's responsibility to make its own decision while taking a recommendation into consideration.

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