I know that this will a huge surprise to all you loyal Cauthen fans, but Cauthen is stalling on the CIMO audit. He needs a couple of more weeks to respond to the audit. Maybe he has been busy or maybe he learned a little from his experience before the Finance and Audit Committee this week.
I would hope that he needs that time to add up all of the money that went down the Denver toilet on this one and provide an honest report to the Council and public. My guess is that he needs the time to figure out how he can shift the responsibility and throw staff to the wolves again.
The Falling Star already got Cauthen's press release that everything is coming up roses for CIMO but the dirt is in the details. I wish someone would ask for an audit of the CIMO RFP.
Showing posts with label Audits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Audits. Show all posts
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Standing Up or Ducking
I can't figure out whether Hermann is showing courage by turning the RFP issue over to the Municipal Ethics Commission or ducking responsibility for handling the messiest part of the audit. I'm not sure that it matters and I do believe it was the right thing to do. I am hopeful that the Commission will decide to review all of the problems in the RFP Audit. My greatest dream is that in their review they will recognize how pervasive the corruption is within the whole system.
In the meantime, Riley appears close to a nervous breakdown. He has been ranting and raving through City Hall for nearly a month. Staff that has been threatened by him should report him to Security. Everyone who was thrown to the wolves by Cauthen during the Finance and Audit Committee meeting should seek "Whistle Blower" protection. Cauthen will attempt to make an example of those he sees as disloyal. He is furious that some staff members actually put things in writing. Cauthen doesn't believe in ever putting anything in writing, don't leave a trail.
Sad, that many employees are now worried about their jobs. Not because they did anything wrong but because they documented their activities. Activities directed by Cauthen.
Come on Municipal Ethics Commission! Riley, if your actions were innocent, I don't believe you have anything to worry about. Doth protest too much.
In the meantime, Riley appears close to a nervous breakdown. He has been ranting and raving through City Hall for nearly a month. Staff that has been threatened by him should report him to Security. Everyone who was thrown to the wolves by Cauthen during the Finance and Audit Committee meeting should seek "Whistle Blower" protection. Cauthen will attempt to make an example of those he sees as disloyal. He is furious that some staff members actually put things in writing. Cauthen doesn't believe in ever putting anything in writing, don't leave a trail.
Sad, that many employees are now worried about their jobs. Not because they did anything wrong but because they documented their activities. Activities directed by Cauthen.
Come on Municipal Ethics Commission! Riley, if your actions were innocent, I don't believe you have anything to worry about. Doth protest too much.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Who is Mary Redmond?
Independent Lease Review, Inc. (ILR) is a company owned by Mary Redmond. This is from documents distributed at yesterday's Finance and Audit Committee meeting.
ILR asserts it was awarded this contract based on a 30 second presentation to the City Manager.
ILR executed a contract with the City that paid ILR 30% of the “Savings” it found for the City in reviewing leases that were proposed to the City.
ILR’s contract authorized one $25,000 advance.
ILR received a second $25,000 cash advance without a contract amendment.
City Manager directed Departments to utilize ILR.
ILR was given a City Lotus Notes e-mail address which showed Mary Redmond was in the City Manager’s Office as opposed to an independent contractor.
ILR’s contract was never properly executed by the City.
Finance Department rejected the ILR contract in August 2005 because it wasn’t executed by an authorized City person, deficient insurance waiver and needed original copy of the contract.
Finance Department’s rejection was 10 months after contract execution.
ILR was not authorized to do business in the State of Missouri at the time it executed the contract with the City.
ILR originally rejected the proposed contract amendments because Law Department recommended against increasing the hourly rate from $150 to $175 (16% increase) and ILR wanted to increase contingency fee compensation by 33%.
On 3/01/06 ILR claimed it was owed an additional $54,456.20.
On 3/21/06 ILR lowered its claim to $33,882.81.
The Law Department reviewed the “Savings” achieved by ILR.
Lot's of questionable stuff, problem is, I still don't know who Mary Redmond is? Cauthen sure didn't want to talk about it yesterday.
Here is ILR's webpage http://www.reviewyourlease.com/home.html . Don't Let the Gotcha's Get You! appears to be their corporate motto. Ironic, don't you think?
Some red wine with my crow, please.
Haleluhah! Check out this mornings Opinion page. For the first time, Cauthen gets slapped -- not hard but he ought to be stinging a little. I never thought that I would see the Falling Star mention Cauthen's name in anything but glowing terms.
http://www.kansascity.com/340/story/457839.html
White’s detailed audit exposed a problem and laid the responsibility where it belongs: on Cauthen’s doorstep. The city manager is responsible for making sure his staff establishes and follows clear guidelines to select contractors. The council ought to make sure he does just that.
I watched some of yesterday's Finance & Audit Committee meeting, couldn't get through it all. The committee meeting is 3 hours long! Johnson had some great comments on the budget process. That guy is starting to grow on me. I am going to try to get my hands on some of the documents today and will return.
http://www.kansascity.com/340/story/457839.html
White’s detailed audit exposed a problem and laid the responsibility where it belongs: on Cauthen’s doorstep. The city manager is responsible for making sure his staff establishes and follows clear guidelines to select contractors. The council ought to make sure he does just that.
I watched some of yesterday's Finance & Audit Committee meeting, couldn't get through it all. The committee meeting is 3 hours long! Johnson had some great comments on the budget process. That guy is starting to grow on me. I am going to try to get my hands on some of the documents today and will return.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
City Manager Needs to Strengthen RFP Contracting Practices
http://www.kcmo.org/auditor/07-08audits/CopierRFP07.pdf
Even the Falling Star isn't applauding this one. These are some very interesting excerpts (italics) and my questions and comments (bold).
The integrity of the Document Output Management and Mail Services RFP process can be questioned because of the actions of some members of the selection committee, some city staff, and an elected official. Who are they? Especially the elected official?
The current draft contract does not adequately protect the city’s interest, providing little leverage to control costs or ensure performance. Doesn't this describe CIMO perfectly?
The city should reject the current proposals for the Document Output Management and Mail Services RFP and begin again, with a new RFP and a new selection committee. Are we sure that this Manager and this Council are capable of a clean process? After watching the Finance Committee this morning, I doubt it.
We shared a draft of this report with the city manager and his staff on December 5, 2007. Why did it take Cauthen six weeks to respond?
We were unable to interview two members of the selection committees. An outside consultant on the committee would not participate in an oral interview and we declined to submit written questions for her response with the assistance of her attorney. The former director of the Information Technology Department agreed to be interviewed after-hours, but did not provide a time for the interview despite our request. Why did individuals avoid talking to the Auditor? Why did people find the need to retain attorneys?
The city manager asked that Perfect Output’s CEO develop an RFP to address document output management. Let me repeat this.
The city manager asked that Perfect Output’s CEO develop an RFP to address document output management. This is unbelievable. Cauthen asked one of the contractors bidding on the contract to write the RFP? Are any of us surprised that this same contractor was awarded the contract?
Half of the committee failed to attend all vendor presentations. Certainly understandable, the decision was already made by Cauthen.
Continued
The city’s best interests are not protected by the language in the draft contract.
The draft contract would commit the city to a five-year contract while Perfect Output of Kansas City, LLC, was set to dissolve December 31, 2007.
The draft document management contract does not provide the city with leverage or any other means to control costs.
The cost of mail operations contained in the draft contract for staff and a delivery van are higher than the city’s corresponding costs for fiscal year 2007.
The contract was modified from the city’s standard contract language to permit Perfect Output to obtain financing for equipment. Cauthen employing his buddies wouldn't be so hard to swallow if the citizens of Kansas City weren't getting screwed too. Perfect Output was already scheduled to dissolve on December 31st, 2007! BTW Perfect Output Kansas City LLC did dissolve, as scheduled. https://www.sos.mo.gov/BusinessEntity/soskb/Corp.asp?573807
Who is Michael Marcotte?
The City would've have been obligated to pay Perfect Output millions of dollars over five years and Perfect Output was not obligated to provide anything in return!
Staff, at the time, had proof that costs were currently less than being offered by Perfect Output. AND we were ignoring our contracting guidelines to assist them to get their financing.
I was not able to see all of the Finance Committee meeting but am real disappointed in the whole committee, especially Herman. She seemed to be trying to shut down Johnson who was asking some great questions.
Stay tuned for
Who is Mary Redmond?
Why is Jan Marcason offended?
Even the Falling Star isn't applauding this one. These are some very interesting excerpts (italics) and my questions and comments (bold).
The integrity of the Document Output Management and Mail Services RFP process can be questioned because of the actions of some members of the selection committee, some city staff, and an elected official. Who are they? Especially the elected official?
The current draft contract does not adequately protect the city’s interest, providing little leverage to control costs or ensure performance. Doesn't this describe CIMO perfectly?
The city should reject the current proposals for the Document Output Management and Mail Services RFP and begin again, with a new RFP and a new selection committee. Are we sure that this Manager and this Council are capable of a clean process? After watching the Finance Committee this morning, I doubt it.
We shared a draft of this report with the city manager and his staff on December 5, 2007. Why did it take Cauthen six weeks to respond?
We were unable to interview two members of the selection committees. An outside consultant on the committee would not participate in an oral interview and we declined to submit written questions for her response with the assistance of her attorney. The former director of the Information Technology Department agreed to be interviewed after-hours, but did not provide a time for the interview despite our request. Why did individuals avoid talking to the Auditor? Why did people find the need to retain attorneys?
The city manager asked that Perfect Output’s CEO develop an RFP to address document output management. Let me repeat this.
The city manager asked that Perfect Output’s CEO develop an RFP to address document output management. This is unbelievable. Cauthen asked one of the contractors bidding on the contract to write the RFP? Are any of us surprised that this same contractor was awarded the contract?
Half of the committee failed to attend all vendor presentations. Certainly understandable, the decision was already made by Cauthen.
Continued
The city’s best interests are not protected by the language in the draft contract.
The draft contract would commit the city to a five-year contract while Perfect Output of Kansas City, LLC, was set to dissolve December 31, 2007.
The draft document management contract does not provide the city with leverage or any other means to control costs.
The cost of mail operations contained in the draft contract for staff and a delivery van are higher than the city’s corresponding costs for fiscal year 2007.
The contract was modified from the city’s standard contract language to permit Perfect Output to obtain financing for equipment. Cauthen employing his buddies wouldn't be so hard to swallow if the citizens of Kansas City weren't getting screwed too. Perfect Output was already scheduled to dissolve on December 31st, 2007! BTW Perfect Output Kansas City LLC did dissolve, as scheduled. https://www.sos.mo.gov/BusinessEntity/soskb/Corp.asp?573807
Who is Michael Marcotte?
The City would've have been obligated to pay Perfect Output millions of dollars over five years and Perfect Output was not obligated to provide anything in return!
Staff, at the time, had proof that costs were currently less than being offered by Perfect Output. AND we were ignoring our contracting guidelines to assist them to get their financing.
I was not able to see all of the Finance Committee meeting but am real disappointed in the whole committee, especially Herman. She seemed to be trying to shut down Johnson who was asking some great questions.
Stay tuned for
Who is Mary Redmond?
Why is Jan Marcason offended?
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