Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Is English Our First Language ?": 

A motion had to be made directing staff to include a clause designed to compel completion on schedule? You mean there was never one there?? They have to be told??? I thought we pay professionals to drawing up these contracts? 

Posted by Anonymous to  Our Town and Its Business at 28 February 2015 at 20:06

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We do indeed pay professional staff to draw up contracts. Each on the rising scale of the sunshine list.

Clauses in  contracts are easier to insert than they are to legally enforce.

Failure to perform according to a penalty clause can be  the fault of the client or  contractor. The client's interest is to ensure plans and specifications are complete and accurate before contracts  are awarded.

Significant changes and obvious oversights illustrate inefficiency at best and incompetence at worst and would undoubtedly mitigate against the client in any court action.

The AFLC project is five months behind schedule and almost a third over contract price.

Other factors prevail against us. We were losing a year's revenue by closing the facility for construction. Late completion means additional revenue lost. At least half as much again providing all clients return to the facility.

Architect fees are based on completed cost .Fees will be almost one third higher than financed.

Lost revenue will create higher user fees or a red line in the leisure services budget. Neither reflected  in final cost of  the project. Yet it is part of the cost whoever pays it. 

 A Council snippet watched on Tuesday evening  was a revelation.

Director of Environment and Infrastructure  Simanovskis sought approval for a single source contract
for supervision of construction of the Joint facility.
Cost $77,000.
The main contract was awarded on July 29th 2014.

The night Mr. Constable was appointed to fill the Ballard vacancy.
Councillor Humphreys was on vacation.
A single vote won  approval of the project.
The vacancy did not need to be filled until August 23rd.
One candidate offered to serve without pay.

Plans for the project were underway long before the contract was awarded.Plenty of time for staff to think of everything. Not enough for Council due diligence.



On Tuesday ,Mr. Simanovskis informed Council supervision of the Family Leisure Complex project
took more time than he and the maintenance manager expected.

Architects also provide supervision,he said.

When Mr. Somanovskis finished his explanation Mayor Dawe advised Council he and Councillor Able had attended two or three meetings. He wanted to complement Mr SImanovskis for his advice to council that supervision was needed for the project.

Councillor Thompson queried the town's commitment to the purchasor of the current works site.



The CAO affirmed the commitment and the hundreds of new jobs that go along with along with the sale.

Councillor Kim asked if a job description of supervision would be provided.and was assured.it would. 

Hours are twenty a week Contract $77,000.

All  council queries answered. Lickety split. Approval granted.

Then the most extraordinary thing happened.

The Mayoir looked  straight into the camera or at a person in the audience.
He crossed his eyes. Then rolled them upwards in their sockets. Then stuck out his tongue slightly.  All in a matter of seconds following the decision being made.

Finally he covered his face with both hands as though washing off all telltale signs of relief and satisfaction.
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A little late perchance.