In typical JP Council fashion, the vote was 7-0 with no
discussion.
Spears earlier had sought a delay while he met with the New
Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber had opposed the
contract reform ordinance which would have allowed council members to choose
from the Top 3 or Top 5 highest-ranking bids. The Chamber feels the ordinance
would be unfair to less established minority companies.
Despite the fact that Spears and the Chamber have already
met, Spears pushed for another delay.
“Citizens for Good Government is extremely upset that the
proposed ordinance to reform the Request for Proposal (RFP) contracting process
in Jefferson Parish has again been deferred, this time until September,” CFGG
Vice-Chairman Margie Seemann said. “Although we were not entirely satisfied
with the proposed reforms, and we have numerous recommendations for amending
the proposed ordinance, we believe that this ordinance is a step in the right
direction.”
“We
were extremely happy that an RFP reform ordinance was finally placed on the
February 27th council agenda. Of course, we found that this
ordinance does not go nearly far enough in its proposed reforms, but it at
least does propose some worthwhile reforms,” Seemann continued.
“We
were disappointed when a vote on the RFP reform ordinance was again deferred at
the March 27th council meeting until September. No explanation was
given for the deferral for this extended length of time. CFGG believes the
prolonged deferral is inexcusable and unacceptable. We need contracting reform
and we need it now, even if the reform provided by the proposed RFP reform
ordinance is only a step in the right direction.”
