By Juan Montoya
Despite the full-court press of the GMS-favoring tag team of city manager Charlie Cabler, asst. city manager Robert Lopez, and purchasing agent Robert Luna, a bare-bones city commission voted 3-2 to throw out a proposed contract with the company and go out for bids for the city's industrial and commercial solid waste collection services.
Their recommendations had been tabled twice before and the trio continued to push for the company's bid despite not having presented the commission a copy of the contract at two previous meetings.
The contract under consideration is for five years valued at $50 million.
Voting against accepting the city staff's recommendations were Commissioner At-Large “A” Cesar De Leon, Commissioner At-Large “B” Rose Gowen and District 3 Commissioner Deborah Portillo.
Voting for the contract were District 1 commissioner Ricardo Longoria, who in previous meetings has gone to bat for GMS saying that "Beto and his company have done a great job" and chided De Leon for questioning the city staff's recommendation. District 4 commissioner John Villarreal stuck with GMS as well. Villarreal is up for reelection in May.
Neither the mayor Tony Martinez nor Commissioner Jessica Tetrau attended the meeting. Even if Tetreau showed up, she would have abstained because GMS uses her family's car was to wash their trucks.
Three companies turned in written proposals: Redfish Recycling, GMS, and Republic Services. The only company the city staff said they interviewed was GMS.
De Leon has questioned the fairness of the recommendation saying that the way in which the staff committee came up with the points awarded GMS smacked of "unfairness" to the other companies.
He told the local daily that : “Honestly, I’m not here to say that one company is better than the other or that one company deserves it over the other,” De Leon said. “What I’m saying is we should make it fair. We just feel that we haven’t crossed all out T’s and dotted all our I’s to better serve the community especially in a contract that’s going to be at least for five years and that’s going to be serving every business in Brownsville."
According to one critic – city commissioner candidate Erasmo Castro – before the negotiating period after staff had chosen GMS, the company's bid was $4 million higher than the others. Even after negotiating, GMS was still $2 million higher. Also, he said that GMS has the oldest equipment of the three bidders.
It was obvious that the city trio has been eager for the last three months to ram the GMS deal through. After two months of trying to get a copy of the proposed contract between it and the city, De Leon had enough and opted to scrap the deal altogether and reopen bidding on the contract.
Among the "bullet points" pushed by De Luna in favor of GMS was the fact that GMS raised their franchise fee (the money paid to the City by the trash company) from 17 percent to 19 percent. This would have meant that there would be an additional $580,900 for the city that would be charged to commercial customers and local businesses.
Redfish Recycling had stated in its bid that it was willing to immediately invest over $8 million new trucks, equipment and containers to assist the city in its beautification efforts.
De Luna also came up with something called "added value" points which were rejected by the commissioners.
A commenter on this blog after a post decrying the city staff's choice of GMS said that the company's contributions to Cabler's fundraising golf tournament might have had something to do with the choice: Wasn't GMS the largest contributor to the City Manager Golf Tournament around the same time?"
Was it?
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
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31 comments:
Longoria lost his moche
GMS gambled and lost. Good riddance.
Isn't Ricardo Longoria related the GMS boss grandkids?
I had stated early on to keep an eye on the garbage collection contract, because I suspected an effort to give the contract to Redfish Recycling who I believe had ties to the mayor. Redfish is owned by none other than the Putegnat's. Remember how insider bid information was being given by the former Purchasing director to certain bidders and Cabler did nothing when it was found out? The director was allowed to resign and get a job elsewhere, which is not an unusual practice by Cabler style of management. Much shannigans goes on under Cabler's watch, as we saw with the planning g department, the sports park, permitting department, police, etc. This is the most corrupt administration. The effort is to benefit the elite who now have full control of our city in my opinion.
Ahumada obviously you are obsessed with Cabler, get a life nobody is asking for your opinion.
I wish we had a locally owned trash company that could handle this so we would not have to send out money out of the area.
So what if Redfish Recycling belongs to a Putegnat? Do you see conspiracies everywhere, Ahumada?
I suspect the bidding process was rigged from the beginning with GMS designed to lose. You all are looking at what is obvious, but history has a way of repeating itself when you have corruption. The contract is huge and lucrative, the temptation by proven deal makers and corrupt practices is too much for some in my opinion. Just go back and look how the Sports Park under Atkinson and Cabler went over budget by millions and they got away with it, look at the Casa Nylon, look at how they got rid of the original Recycling Contractor, how they evicted the Spay & Neuter Clinic from the Animal SHELTER LOCATION, look at the misuse of funds at the Planning Department, civil rights violations and settlement with BPD for over $400,000, and other mismanagement matters. I learned long ago not to look at the obvious, but the dynamics and who stands to gain. Look how Cabler, Pete, and Carlos Garcia tried to frame me. Look at how Cabler got a life time city manager contract with one year severance pay for voluntary or involuntary leave (unheard of and against city charter. Look at the Casa Nylon deal and other RAL estate deals that the city does not even need. Look at the for profit Imagine Brownsville deal and how it has bled the city. It is tit for tat with Cabler. The city has some good city employees, but the boss uses intimidation and manipulation and cannot be trusted. So the bids and process is suspect for me. How coincidental they got of the recycling program that was better than what is now with Red Fish and now Red Fish has positioned itself to take over garbage collection. Something stinks...
Who cares if you asked for my opinion or not, I am entitled to have and submit what I want to say. And managements actions affect the my city, that entitles me to speak out, especially when management tried to frame me. I paid the price and am entitled to speak out and they know it is true. Then look at the facts regarding prior inside bidding rigged and nothing was done to have accountability, which is condoning the illegal activity. Then look how they did all they could to stop me with Father Jerry and Don Curry when we went to Washington to report misappropriation of HUD monies in the Planning Department and many other irregularities and activity. To attack me indicates to me you are part of them who has benefitted or condones it because it benefits your interest. This is the most corrupt administration and you think nothing of a management contract that violates charter or using the BPD to frame people that gets in their way.
That's correct something stinks.. YOU PAT
Off the subject:
Why is HEB still having customers use recycle bags and Walmart giving plastic bags?
Did the city cancel the plastic bag ordenance on the last city comission meeting? (Sorry I don't keep up with that very often).
Just asking.
Casa del Nylon? Don't forget El Cueto, San Fernando building, Gutierrez warehouse, properties next to Los Reyes Cafe, rebuilt "Mayor''s office" at the corner of 11th and E. Washington that the Mayor never used (the owner got away with a rebuilt building thanks to the taxpayers). Casa Del Nylon still sits unoccupied, it will take a couple of million dollars to bring it up to occupancy standards. No accountability at all, where are the Feds? This is clearly abuse of power of hard- earned taxpayers monies. Hopefully, someone whether State or Federal level will have the courage to hold city leaders accountable. And people always talk about the corruption in Mexico, look no further.
Is John Villarreal running on his record ?
Well he's out
Shame on you Johnny boy
How ironic Pat the rat taking about honesty
Shut the fuck up, Valadez! You're the perfect definition of a "rat" you stupid,conniving , irrelevant monstrosity !
I am.
the FED'S need to go in like gang busters and investigate brown town,san bene and keep moving north.
Mayor Pat is welcome on this blog, and speaks from first hand knowledge and experience. Whether u agree with him or not, he has credibility. Thank you for your public service sir.
Ahumada your time is gone ojete
Sincerely,
Your mom
Anonymous 6:48 PM, thanks!
Shut up Maldonado eres el lamehuebos de Pat
Since when do you own Montoya's blog ?
Pat should consider runing for Mayor again, he done an excellent job as Mayor the last time. Yes, he made mistakes but he did an excellent job keeping street repairs, park improvements and other municipal needs, something that the current city commission has failed to do. Hope he will consider running for public office again, he will get our votes.
Ahumada needs medical attention, he is going crazy day by day
Pat you know you deposit the check not cabler, who is the thief ?
You must blind Ahumada has zero credibility, he is a loser and unhappy individual
Manuela is Pat first hand knowledge
Yes he's going to run again, but for mayor of Tampico
You must be out of your mind Ahumada is a danger for Brownsville
Pat get a life, you are your worst enemy NOBODY believes your lies
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