Tuesday, July 30, 2013

COME TO THINK ABOUT IT, BISD DID NOT RANK LAW FIRMS

By Juan Montoya
As the dust settles from the tumultuous Brownsville Independent School District meeting of this past
Tuesday, one of our readers pointed out that we had not included the overall ranking of the with law firms considered for providing the board with legal counsel.
Well, we went back over our notes and found out that, indeed, the board under president Enrique Escobedo did not rank the eight law firms who responded to the Requests for Professional Services, but only listed them under several categories.
For example, of the 51 areas of specialization in the specifications requested by the BISD, Baltazar Salazar's firm tied for fourth/fifth in listing as "Did not Disclose" their qualifications in 17 categories. They ranked there based on the  non-disclosure of their firm's lack of experience in:
1. Competitive bidding
2. Copyright Issues
3. Election Law advice
4. Employee Health Insurance Matters
5. Federal Voters Right Advice
6. Fiber Optic Communications System
7. Freedom of Religion Issues
8. Governmental Tort Claims
9. Intergovernmental Agreements
10. Intergovernmental Relations
11. Liability for Asbestos
12. Preventive Law
13. Public Utility Commission
14. State Whistle Blower Act Compliance
15. Texas Teacher Retirement System
16. University Interscholastic League
17. Utility Law Regulation
Three others –
1. Thompson and Horton (9), of Houston, who was the legal counsel replaced by Salazar's firm'
2.  O'Hanlon, McCollum and Demerath (0), Austin, and
3. Thornton, Biechlin, Segrato, Reynolds and Guerra (0), of Austin – listed less.
4. Rogers, Morris and Grover, Houston (17), listed the same number as Salazar.
But the kicker here is that in the category of the number of school districts represented by the differing firms, Salazar ranked seventh of the eight having represented only 3 districts.
At the top of the list was O'Hanlon, McCollum and Demerath with 102 districts, Thompson and Horton with 90 school districts, Rogers, Morris and Grover with 51 school districts, Thornton, Biechlin, Segrato, Reynolds and Guerra with 15 school districts, etc...
Of the eight firms, Salazar came in sixth in terms of years of public education experience with 18 years total.
Other firms such as O'Hanlon, McCullom and Demerath listed 75 years, Thornton, Biechlin, Segrato, Reynolds and Guerra listed 40 years, Gustavo Acevedo listed 45 years, Rogers, Morris and Grover listed 20 years, etc...
So even with the Salazar law firm being way down on the list of the other law firms based on the breadth of specialization, their years of experience representing school districts, and the number of districts they have represented, a majority of the board (Otis Powers, Enrique Escobedo, Hector Chirinos and Minerva Peña) obviously ranked them higher than the other seven.
Only trustees Catalina Presas-Garcia and Lucy Longoria, who Salazar targeted for "censor" by the rest of the board, voted to hire someone else.
Now, we have been told that it really is up to the board president to place items on the board's agenda, which leads to another question. If the professional services for legal counsel did not rate a ranking for that choice, why was it that Escobedo went over the administration's recommendation for an insurance consultant in an earlier agenda item and called for a motion to award the contract to the person of his choice?
Is there any consistency to BISD policy under this administration or its board officers? 

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Get over it Juan. Luci just wants the attention off of her. Since she publicly stated that Dr. Montoya promised a job to her friend. According to what Luci stated; The friend apparently is being investigated for a criminal act. Now Luci wants to stop it? Why? Is the friend ready to sell Luci out, if Luci cannot make the investigation go away. Think about it? Why would Luci be so interested in protecting the person being investigated. Interesting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

SO What, juan?

Anonymous said...

Juan we the people. .. that read and post our opinion will no longer blog since you only post what u want and not what we the people think.. we might as well go read more of other blogss that post all our comments...pro or con luci y cata...be fair.. post all sides

Anonymous said...

Barking the wrong tree, is Baltazar the B Shiter that wants the attention away from him and Enrique, Otis, Hector, Minerva and all those construction contracts.

Anonymous said...

DID OTIS PROMISED A JOB TO FRIENDS AND CAMPAIGN DONORS?

DID ENRIQUE GOT JOBS FOR HIS FEMALE FRIENDS AND HIS FRIEND's FRIENDS?

HAS CHIRINOS GOTTEN JOBS FOR HIS FAMILY AND FAMILIE's FIENDS?

HAS MINERVA ABUSE HER POWER IN GIVING CONTRACTS TO HER SELECTED FRIENDS AND FRIEND'S FRIENDS?

HAVE THE ADMINISTRATORS ABUSE THEIR POWER TO GIVE JOB'S TO THEIR FAMILY, FAMILY'S RELATIVES AND FRIENDS?

PLEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAASSSSSEEEE???

Anonymous said...

Cata, no amount you pay this site will excuse your board behavior. you would do well to resign from the board and remain a bad memory.

Anonymous said...

When you "rank" firms, then the Trustees must defend their choice over the higher ranked firms. The BISD consideration of "rank" is the firm that will provide the greatest kickbacks will be the "rankest" firm. You want rank, that is rank in Cameron County.

Anonymous said...

The "We the People" guy above should choose some topics to introduce to the blog and then provide some input. Why expect Juan to read your mind...if you have one. It's the blogger's choice here. You want other subjects to be addressed....send in some info, not just nonsensical criticism of what is blogged.

Anonymous said...

Luci didn't mention a friend, clean your ears Minerva and stop making acussations like the liar Baltazar. Maybe it's one of your friends, oh no if it was you would be yelling and screaming. You only protect your friends and the hell with the others and you call yourself a law enforcement person?

Anonymous said...

Rumor is Baltazar gave $1,000 to Minerva, Powers, Chirinos and Barbosa. Now you know why these corrupt bimbos hired Salazar.
This is pathetic.

Anonymous said...

Looks who's calling the kettle black, Salazar is no snow white.

Anonymous said...

Luci isn't a crook like you sicko. Why don't you stop and think she is protecting someone that hasn't been given the opportunity to give her side. This cracker jack box attorney didn't provide any evidence as she stated. I'm surprised Minerva, Dr. montoya and the other board members not requesting to prove his allegations? Could it be this is something they plotted against this poor person?

Anonymous said...

1. Who was promised job?
2. Who promised the Job?
3. What job was it?
4. Did longoria know the person?
5. Where did Longoria get the prsons phone No.?
6. Why did Longoria choose to protect that persons :"civil rights"?
7. Does she do this for every person that does not get hired?

8. Why did Longoria choose to involve herself in this case?

9. Why did she chose to go behind the back of the board to instigate meetings with the superintendent and board attorney?

Will we ever get any answers to these questions, or will they play the distraction game by attacking the board attorney?


Anonymous said...

BS BALTAZAR IS FULL OF SHIT!
CHECK OTIS CAMPAIGN FINANCIAL REPORT AND VEFIFY BALTAZAR GAVE HIM CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.
OTIS SHOULD HAVE ABSTAIN WHEN BALTAZAR WAS VOTED IN!!!!!
PLAIN AND SIMPLE

Anonymous said...

Lucio used to be a regular guest at EX COUNTY COMISSIONER ISRAEL, Israel's daughter pamely got married to the DPS Larrazolo that got busted with a luggage full of money at Golds Gym parking lot.
Raymonville Ex Commissioner Israel's daughter Pamely's mother in Law (DPS Larazolo's mom is a midwife who can fix birth certificates for a nominal fee.
Again Lucio and Pamely's dad Raymonville's Ex Commioner are caca and calzon.

Anonymous said...

Why don't you watch or go to the meetings. Lucu is one that is always standing for the employees, teachers and students.

At the last meeting she told the suprrintendent hw was not being fair to the other employees by appointing people as interim principals and not giving the asst. Principals a chance to become principals.

Another time, she protected Sandra Powers when her own sister moved her from the athletic dept. and the Powers don't like her and she still protected her.

This speaks highly of her integrity.

Anonymous said...

Ms. Longoria is the most professional person of the rest of the board.

She doesn't have any self interest, she's there to do what's right for the district.

I have seen her pushing for venders or insurance consultants on the contrary she always questions these things and always says give everyone an opportunity.

Anonymous said...

Why would Dr. Montoya be having lunch with this guy Salazar before hiring him?

Is this ethical in both their part? Or the board member that put him up to it?

Anonymous said...

Why didn't they hire Baltazar Salazar for in=house attorney? He told several people he had been recommended and had the job and then got a call that he didn't?

Can someone find out why? Now he gets hired being the lowest ranked, very interesting!

Anonymous said...

Why don't you ask why didn't the board attorney
show any factual evidence as Ms.. Longoria stated in public he never provided any evidence the first time around.

Watch the video,the board president agreed on hearing the other party's version. She didn't go behind the board.

Anonymous said...

http://www.foxrio2.com/tag/jesus-rafael-larrazolo/

rita