Jun 19, 2002 3 min read

For a moment let’s jump into the time machine, go back a decade and stop for a moment to visit a Fayette County Housing Authority board meeting. Who’s that in the audience? A young Sean Cavanagh and he is set on making the board accountable for spending the public’s money. Cavanagh propelled himself into the public arena by doggedly championing the cause of accountability by elected and appointed officials and by pointing out shady deals and trails of corruption. Fast-forward now to last Thursday’s meeting of the Fayette County Commissioners, of which Cavanagh is now a member.

Watch as Cavanagh proposes that the county hire an architect and engineer to draw up plans for a new 24,000 square-foot building without knowing two things: How much the county will be obligated to pay in fees, and more importantly whether it is getting the best service at the best price.

What happened to the man who has made a career out of pitching fits whenever one of the other two county commissioners attempts to hire a firm, or purchase supplies and equipment without seeking bids or quotes?

If it’s wrong for others to spend county funds this way, then it is wrong for Cavanagh.

But Cavanagh couldn’t do this alone. He needed a second vote, which Commissioner Vince Vicites was all too willing to offer. Chairman Vicites said of architect Michael Molnar – whose recent work for the county on the prison expansion project cost about $200,000 more than expected, and, oops had forgotten to include locks and fence – that he communicates well although he’d like to see some improvements in his work.

By failing to make the new work competitive, the commissioners probably have bought the same imperfections that now trouble Vicites.

Molnar might be the best architect for the new Fayette County Mental Health/Mental Retardation building. He might be the best architect in the tri-state area for all we know. And he might work for the best prices. But the county certainly doesn’t know this if the commissioners fail to request proposals from other firms, as Commissioner Ron Nehls proposed.

Nehls was outnumbered and Cavanagh and Vicites need to offer some explanations then see if they can rescind the hiring and do it the right way by requesting formal proposals.

We suggest Cavanagh and Vicites start by explaining why they felt they could violate policy by not requesting proposals. Then continue on and explain how they could hire Molnar and Widmer Engineering without having any rates in front of them.

What is this going to cost? If it’s a percentage of the total project cost, is that 4 percent, 6 percent, 8 percent? What are the commissioners doing to make sure that this project isn’t well over budget and that it is completed on time?

These are points that are negotiated up-front when the county still has some leverage. To hire firms first and hash out details second is no better than handing out blank checks and telling Molnar and Widmer to decide what they are worth.

That isn’t accountability, and both Cavanagh and Vicites know it. They would be the first ones screaming if some other board pulled this stunt. And Cavanagh especially would be digging to determine what benefit was derived through an underhanded vote.