Has Largo Created A Catch-22 Scenario With Its Outsourcing?by Leo CoughlinLARGO – Some developments in Largo raise the question whether the city administration has created a “catch-22" situation by engaging outside contractors. The issue comes up most pointedly in the project to fix up the southeast corner of Bay Drive and Seminole Boulevard where the clock tower has stood for some 14 or so years. It soon will be gone, to be revived in a triangular plot to the west after the corner is rehabilitated. The cost of the rehab project is put at $230,000. Rather than go to an outsider contractor – which has already happened – the question was raised as to why the city’s public works department couldn’t do the work. After all, it merely involves some ripping up what’s there and putting in new stuff. Not exactly like sending a rocket to outer space. One reason given by Brian Usher, the PW director, at last week’s City Commission meeting was that cutbacks in staff because of a lack of funds would create a problem for the city’s workers to do the project. Huh? Money is going to outsourced contractors which deprives the city of funds to pay enough workers to keep the Public Works Department fully staffed? That is the thrust of what Usher seemed to be saying. Another reason given was the city’s inability to install brick pavers which are called for in the rehabbing of the site. Of course, that could be dealt out to a sub-contractor at a modest price. Usher even added – without elaboration – that “other projects” otherwise scheduled by public works will have to be delayed because of the cutbacks he mentioned. The gist of this was also mentioned by Geoff Moakley, a resident who keeps a sharp eye on administrative expenditures. His point – why are outside engineers being hired so often given the fact that there are engineers on the city staff? “What we have is city engineers supervising the work of hired (outside) engineers. It doesn’t make any sense,” one observer said. Another fault in the city may be allowing conditions that create mechanical problems for vehicles. This was brought out by Curtis Holmes, like Moakley an eagle-eyed watch dog of city activity. Holmes pointed out the terrible condition of 8th Street NE, sort of a “back door” access road for the police and their vehicles. Holmes pointed out that the road is in “deplorable condition,” full of potholes, etc., which is what probably gives rise to the front end problems that police vehicles are said to be having. Bob Jackson, former mayor, shows up at City Hall most meeting nights. Friday he was at City Hall on another mission – he was picking up the paper work for November’s campaign. He plans to challenge Pat Gerard and hopes to get his mayor job back. Curtis Holmes, who will challenge Rodney Woods for his commission seat, picked up candidate papers Tuesday.
|