City says it has no docs from "management coaching" deal
As we've been reporting, back in the fall of 2009 the Portland city transportation bureau hired a $200-an-hour "management coach" from Portland State University for one of its managers. They had reportedly been looking for such a coach for Ellis McCoy, the parking meter manager who's currently under FBI investigation. But we were told by the city last week that the one they actually hired wasn't for McCoy, but instead for an unnamed manager in the maintenance operations division.
We then asked the city, under the public records law, for copies of all work product produced under the contract. Yesterday Margaret Yandle, assistant to transportation director Tom Miller, wrote us: "PBOT has no responsive documents of correspondance or reports produced by the management coach." Unless we're being misled, that means to us that the "coach," Terry O'Connor, never wrote to the city about anything. Apparently, he just "coached" the manager and communicated with the bosses orally.
We've also requested any such documents that may be in the possession of Portland State. We'll pursue that, and we've got a few other questions to ask; we'll report the answers if and when we get them.
| Posted at 9:43 AM | Permalink |
|
Comments (11)
Jack,
I've deal with enough government contracts and solictations over the years to know there had to be a clause like this:
"Deliverables and schedule for this project shall include:
a. Interim meetings with upper Bureau Management as coaching proceeds
b. A Final report from the contractor detailing the required services and progress made."
Per the RFP which typically is incorporated by reference into the final contact.
Posted by Newleaf | September 1, 2011 10:11 AM
RFP also says:
"All deliverables and resulting work products from this contract will become the property of the City of Portland."
So even if in the contractor's offices the documentation for the contract is owned by the city and under its control (it need only ask the custodian to turn it over).
Posted by Newleaf | September 1, 2011 10:15 AM
Right. Whatever there was must've 'accidentally' fallen into the office shredder.
Posted by Mr. Grumpy | September 1, 2011 11:11 AM
Sounds just like the curious lack of documents at BES regarding the first (failed) Multnomah Boulevard Pressure Sewer pipe line contract a dozen years ago.
Obviously just an accidental oversight.
There can't be a pattern of city bureaus deliberately "loosing" documentation on contracts that go bad, can it?
Posted by Nonny Mouse | September 1, 2011 11:29 AM
Pattern.... I don't see no stinking pattern of obstruction... hey DOJ you out there today?
Posted by LucsAdvo | September 1, 2011 12:46 PM
sur-prise, sur-prise, surprise!
No documentation...how convenient.
Rogues, thieves and liars...the whole bunch.
Posted by portland native | September 1, 2011 12:52 PM
Or someone at the City could just call you and give the details to clear it up. But that would go against every fiber of obstruction in their body: "Must... stonewall... even when there is no... good... reason...!"
Posted by Snards | September 1, 2011 1:58 PM
The coaching contract should have specified the goals of the engagement, the number of hours of coaching to be provided and the performance standards. The person overseeing the contract for the City should have documented the contractor's performance in relation to these provisions. If none of this was done, the City has very shoddy contracting practices, at least for personal services contracts. Where is the City's auditor here?
Posted by Ickabod | September 1, 2011 2:36 PM
True story re PBOT,(well, then it was PDOT) the way it handles public records issues, and a bureaucrat there named Andrew Abei, the "administrator" or "manager" of Local Improvement Districts ("LIDs").
Somewhere 'bout 4 - 5 years ago, local Neighborhood Association gets a CC of a letter addressed to some folks who live in the neighborhood regarding the formation of a LID to get a localstreet paved. (There is good reason why this neighborhood is called "The Cully of the Southwest")
The CC of the letter we get includes mention of two enclosures sent to the original addressees, one a pre printed brochure from PBOT regarding "LIDs", the second a pre printed form of petition by which the folks on the local block can sign petition a petition for formation of a LID. Neither of the enclosures mentioned in the body of the letter, which are also listed under the writer's and typists intials, are included with the copy of the letter.
Silly Neighborhood Association asks by E mail for copies of the two enclosures so we can have a complete file.
Response back from Mr. Abei at PBOT is that the petition form is confidential and can't be disclosed, and that the pre printed brochure will be produced as a response to a public records act request if the NA provides $ 64.00 in advance for "research time" in locating and copying the pre printed brochure.
Ahhh, PBOT.
Posted by Nonny Mouse | September 1, 2011 3:44 PM
Nonny, LIDs are very important. It's how the city has money to spend on trams and other go go gadgets whilst appearing to be responsive to giving local neighborhood needs.
Posted by LucsAdvo | September 1, 2011 6:36 PM
O at 3:36P:
"Embattled Portland parking manager Ellis K. McCoy has resigned from his job amid a federal investigation into bribes and kickbacks, the city said Friday.
McCoy, 60, has been on paid administrative leave since Aug. 10. His resignation is effective today."
http://blog.oregonlive.com/portlandcityhall/2011/09/portland_parking_manager_ellis.html
Posted by Gardiner Menefree | September 2, 2011 5:24 PM