Metro Council Wants More Oversight

Members of Metro Council hope they’ll have greater oversight of city contracts, with a proposal up before the body tonight. The bill would require council approval for all contracts valued above half-a-million dollars, or higher than 3-million over the contract’s lifespan.

Councilman Charlie Tygard sponsored the bill after the Church Street renovations contract was awarded for two million more than the lowest bidder, and the proposed contract for security in Metro buildings was more than 4-million over. Tygard though, has exempted several professional services such as financial or legal from the bill.

“We understand that contracts for certain types of contracts and services should not be based on low bids, the feelings from council members are if extenuating circumstances make a higher bid a better bid then we want the justification for it.”

The proposal to award the security contract to Wackenhut Corporation was dropped because of the cost issue, and the contract is in the process of being re-bid.

One attorney for Metro Council, Jon Cooper says the ordinance could be considered unconstitutional for a provision exempting small, minority or women-owned businesses from having to get council approval.

“Because it gives preferential treatment to minority and women owned firms.”

The bill is up for its second of three readings tonight.