Money woes stagger Winslow Way project

Yesterday was too nice of a day to blog, but not nice enough to not write up the latest chapter in the Streetscape saga.

Read all about it below.

BI Council Wants More Penny-Pinching on Winslow Way Project
By Tristan Baurick

Just as it seemed to be picking up speed, the Winslow Way road and utility project hit a big enough bump Wednesday to send it back to the shop.

The City Council voted not to vote on a contract proposal that would have green-lighted the $11.3 million road, sewer and water project. Raising concerns about public outreach and consulting costs, council members rerouted the contract to the council’s Public Works Committee for additional deliberation and possible modifications.

“This looks like a misuse of public money,” said Council Chairman Bill Knobloch, referring to almost $60,000 worth of what he termed “frivolous expenses” included in the initial planning and outreach contract with Heery International.

Spending $1,400 on “Friday coffees” with Winslow business leaders, $7,200 on presentation materials and $9,200 for interviews with property owners were a few items that drew the ire of Knobloch and other council members.

“Twelve thousand dollars for a Fourth of July booth? What the hell!” Knobloch said, noting that he registered a booth at the island’s upcoming Independence Day festivities for $60.

But Knobloch isn’t seeing the full picture, said project manager Chris Wierzbicki.

The $12,300 line item Knobloch referred to doesn’t just rent a booth. It also pays consultants to staff it, and buys numerous handouts, presentations and displays for other project-related events.

Wierzbicki also stressed that residents and business owners are hungry for more information about the project.

“I think it’s crucial that we inform people about what’s going on and how this may disrupt the lives of businesses,” he said. “It’s what people have been asking for.”

Wierzbicki also stressed that outreach accounts for just 4 percent of the $1.5 million Heery International contract.

“For me, it’s a drop in the bucket,” he said.

But for a City Council that also voted on Wednesday to cut police training, sewer cleanings and public building roof repairs, every drop counts in an increasingly smaller bucket.

“We’re cutting the police budget (and) then we want to pay somebody $1,400 to host monthly coffees?” Knobloch said. “This is a utility project. Why are we adding frivolous expenses?”

Councilwoman Kim Brackett said the public and the council haven’t had time to review the contract. She also doubted that the administration was up to speed on the contract’s legal facets.

“I would never approve a contract on the fly unless it’s fully vetted, with the i’s dotted and t’s crossed,” she said.

When asked if he reviewed the contract, City Attorney Paul McMurray answered he hadn’t. His response added to Brackett’s unease.

“If we’re going to start building trust with the community, I think this contract needs to be vetted legally,” she said.

After a legal review, Knobloch wants to see the project thrown into the same heap of capital projects on the council’s budget chopping block awaiting judgment. With popular projects like new bicycle lanes, road repairs and a senior center expansion eyed as likely victims of future cuts, Knobloch says upgrades on and under Winslow Way shouldn’t enjoy the automatic exemption the administration appears to have granted it.

“It’s an act of desperation when you see us cutting things like $2,000 from the police training budget,” he said. “That’s cutting services to the people. So what business does the (Winslow Way) project have being a stand-alone project?”