Authority delays contract action
The Fayette County Housing Authority Thursday postponed awarding a three-year $250,000 contract for architectural and engineering services after a discussion about the procurement process used to acquire the companies. Board member Robert Onesko said he had concerns about approving the contract, saying the authority doesn’t have a cost comparison, adding that board members have been attempting to get away from multiple year contracts in the last few months.
Specifically, the authority tabled awarding a three-year contract for architectural and engineering services to Altman and Altman and Sleighter Engineering Inc. as a joint venture. The companies currently perform engineering and architectural work for the authority and have done so for several years.
Executive director Thomas Harkless explained that the authority’s engineering and architectural work is done exclusively for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act to bring authority properties into compliance under direction from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). He said the authority obtains about $2 million a year for such projects.
Harkless said 5 percent of the units at each of the properties at the authority’s 17 developments must be made accessible to the disabled and several more sites must be brought into compliance such as kitchen remodeling and installation of ramps. The authority has 1,323 units, which means about 65 units must be made accessible.
Board member Ernie DeBlasio questioned what would happen if the cost of the services exceeded $250,000 and more work was needed. DeBlasio added that he didn’t think that $250,000 sounded like a lot of money for such work.
Harkless said if the costs went over, the services would be put out to bid, but the cost estimate was made keeping the authority’s budget and one- and five-year plans in mind.
Harkless explained that the authority advertised a request for qualifications and then each of the firms that responded were rated and the authority only negotiated price with the highest ranked firm, namely Altman and Sleighter of Uniontown, with 24 total points. Three authority employees provided rankings for the firms.
The authority received three other proposals: from Perfido, Weiskopf, Wagstaff and Goettel (18 points); Lami/Grubb Architects (23 points) and Mavrovic Architects (16 points).
Harkless said HUD stipulates that the authority only negotiates prices with the most-qualified firm and if their price is too high, they move on to the next qualified.
Solicitor Jack Purcell said HUD stipulates that the authority can’t go to other firms to see what they charge, they can only negotiate price with the most-qualified companies after the ranking process.
Harkless said the other three firms, all of which ranked lower, are from Allegheny County.
“We work hard to bring money to Fayette County. I like to see it spent here,” Harkless said.
Authority Chairman Harry Fike asked if it was possible to enter into a three-month agreement instead of a three-year agreement.
Onesko suggested a one-year time frame and the board tabled the vote to get other options.
In other business, the authority approved a one-year contract with McClure and Wolf of Uniontown to perform auditing services for the authority in the amount of $38,500. The agreement is the first of three option years with McClure and Wolf in the contract and is the same price as last year’s audit.
A motion was approved to award a contract to Ford Business Machines of Uniontown to purchase six copiers at a price of $79,041. By making the purchase, the authority is getting rid of nine outdated Savin/Gestetner copy machines.
Harkless said the decision to purchase instead of lease was made because it costs $9,000 less to buy than lease. He said the current copy machines date back to the 1990s.
The authority also approved minutes for a special meeting held on June 24 at which a three year contract was unanimously approved with the Construction, General Laborers and Materials Handlers Local 1058.The contract affects 26 employees at the housing authority.
Harkless previously said the three-year contract, which began July 1 and extends to June 30, 2011, includes raises of 60 cents an hour a year for the employees. Prior to the contract agreement, the 15 mechanics made $22.31 an hour, or about $46,405 a year; five technicians earned $15.15 an hour, or $31,512 a year, and six custodians were paid $12.46 an hour, or $25,916 annually.
Harkless said the contract includes the same pension contribution as the current contract. The authority contributes 13 percent to the employees pension.
The authority approved the employee handbook, which consolidates the existing personnel policy. Harkless said additions to the handbook, tabled last month, include statements regarding board approval of new hires and provisions allowing drug testing.
The handbook includes rules on many issues, such as sexual harassment, smoking, overtime, funeral leave, retirement, holiday leave, disciplinary action, grievances and travel.