IT Contract Held But Will Likely Pass Next Week
Posted by Jeff Pruitt - 8/20/08 @ 1:54 am - Filed Under City Council, Featured
The contract was held until next week because the council didn’t feel comfortable approving a contract of this magnitude that wasn’t 100% complete. Despite the hold it seemed quite obvious to me that the ordinance is going to pass.
First let me say that all the nonsense about “not outsourcing jobs” and “all the jobs will be local” needs to end right now. The city’s CTO, Clifford Clarke, admitted tonight that at a minimum the help desk jobs will be in Indianapolis Houston and not Fort Wayne. Of course that sounds slightly different than what
Clarke told Indiana News Center just a few months ago:
Both have operations in the United States, but their headquarters are in France and India. Clarke argues even if these are foreign based companies, the money would stay local.
Evidently not all the money will be local. In fact there’s nothing in the contract that says any specific number of employees must be local. So just so everyone knows, a vote for this contract will, with 100% certainty, cause Fort Wayne to lose jobs.
Mayor Richard had an executive order requiring construction projects to use local contractors. I am extremely disappointed that Mayor Henry didn’t extend this order to include IT services. The rationale given tonight for that decision was that they just didn’t want to do something new starting with this contract. The untold truth is that this contract never even had to go out for bid as the city could’ve simply put together a local consortium to do the job.
Does Mayor Henry really believe it’s a wise move to send IT jobs to Indianapolis and Houston when we could easily keep them right here in Fort Wayne? We spend $65 million in subsidies for Harrison Square with absolutely zero data to show how it will actually create quality jobs, yet when a $20 million IT contract comes along the mayor suddenly doesn’t care about losing those jobs? It’s asinine to the nth degree.
We’ll subsidize a McDonalds or Subway but won’t go out of our way to ensure local businesses, that are qualified, get a $20 million taxpayer-funded contract? If it wasn’t all so serious it would be laughable.
You can see the roll call vote on the motion to hold below - the video is actually starts with another contentious exchange between Pape and Clarke:
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29 Responses to “IT Contract Held But Will Likely Pass Next Week”
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Heads should roll in the puplic eye, this back and forth is so sad.
Where’s the leadership?
The Public Eye should have a voice.
Help Desk jobs will actually be in Houston.
Such a lost opportunity for the citizens and the very talented, local IT folks of Fort Wayne.
Make sure when FWCS sets up their high school magnet program that one school is dedicated to minimum wage careers. We want to make sure that kids are appropriately educated on the realities of the city that they live in.
First, Liz Brown is a typical political amimal. “residents probably don’t even care….”
Sure…. And I don’t drink Bud Light either.
Liz…. This is 11.9 million of OUR bucks leavng town!!!!
Second, It’s completely obvious that Clifford Clarke has no clue as to what this contract has in it OR he is fabricating information.
Third, How can the County vote and pass a contract that is not complete? A contract with “Blanks” is not a contract. It’s a lawyers dream. Let’s see, 33% of 11.9 mil. Umm!
When all the good jobs are gone to Houston or Indianapolis (depending on who you believe), and General Motors closes out pickup production (hide and watch) there won’t be enough tax money in Fort Wayne to flush the toilets in Harrison Square.
Just for the record… I believe Karen Goldner (Help desk in Houston)! Thanks for trying.
I’m not in agreement with this contract, but I’ll focus on a different point.
I’m in shock that the matter was even brought to council incomplete. If you are pressed for time then you need to meet your deadlines.
I would never have brought an incomplete project like this in for approval - that was totally unprofessional and it forced Pape’s hand to say wait, this is ridiculous.
Would you walk up to your teacher with a research paper that omitted certain paragraphs because they would be completed later and expect her to give you an A.
And to Liz Brown - I do care - and if you don’t think we care about our City and where millions of dollars stay, then why are you on council?
To be honest with everyone I was impressed by all the council members who spoke. I do think, and she slightly hinted on it, Ms. Brown should take a everything her brother tells her regarding SPRINT. They are a huge whale compared to Fort Wayne when coming to purchasing of IT systems.
I think Mr. Clarke made a grave error that led to a great deal of the problems. A contract is offerred in various parts and has to be assembled by the council members is just begging for problems. He got them and deserved them.
I think Ms. Goldner did an outstanding job of bringing issues up. They came up because Mr. Clarke was not up front with information and the process. Had he done so and Ms. Goldner taken advantage of a set down meeting I think some of the issues could have be resolved.
There is no way, without looking into the details of every vendor to tell the who, what and where of its contents. While I am impressed by the out cry to select a local vendor it is difficult to tell if that would have been in the best interest in the long run.
It would have been great for Fort Wayne if we had a local company that could have offered the complete package as the city wanted. That can be debated until hell gets a skin of ice over it.
As for the County I think Mr. Clarke stated the County had NOT APPROVED the contract but only the funds to allow for a transfer fees to the new vendor. That the COUNTY HAD NOT VOTED on the contract itself.
I think the City Council did an outstanding job at stating do not bring partial contracts to them and ask for a stamp of approval. The question is if the city trys it again will the council have the guts to send them back to the 9th floor until it is complete?
Karen,
Houston is even worse as the money is leaving the state altogether. Correction made. Thanks
JQ,
I spoke with councilman Tom Didier after the meeting and he said he voted against the hold because he didn’t see the point of holding it when he was going to vote for it anyway.
I told him that the point would be to set a precedent that the council will not approve a contract unless it’s actually finalized. During the meeting Didier brought up a similar point himself.
However he said the council doesn’t always make sure the contracts are finalized before approving them so I guess it was necessary here either.
That to me is a scary train of thought. First, the council should not approve ANYTHING unless it’s finalized. Second, just because they’ve been doing something the wrong way (IMO) is not a reason to continue down that path.
I think Didier did eventually see this from my (and obviously others’) point of view and I’m hopeful that the practice will end…
I think its awful that Ms Brown didn’t get that there is a big difference between local jobs and a beer. As a part of recent MBA round table, we were asked to analyze and review the impacts of this type of contract. The $5M annual (total value city/county) is a sizable amount of gross income that will not be contributing to city/county/state tax base. When I watched on TV last night, it was noted that the help desk is moving to Houston. Per the RFP, that’s 11 jobs lost out of 62. If the trend continues, the city could lose another 20-25 jobs depending on what the city/county see as “key jobs”. Even those key jobs stop being key as the legacy knowledge gets transferred.
How can anyone on council not see the value of encouraging and supporting local businesses. I guess when Parkview finds that most residents can’t afford their services or that there is a public outcry about the huge incentives or tax abatements that are given to “large” companies to “help them”, the city council, and specifically Ms Brown will realize that their decisions have an impact on the economic development, workforce development and secondary spending of revenues at local service/retail providers.
Wake up Fort Wayne - this is about more than “local companies”. This is about jobs and having sufficient local dollars to maintain a comfortable way of life here.
April,
You make a point. I am a “BUD” drinker a few times a year. However, when it is sold I will become a “Miller” drinker. Of course I have only owned Americian based automakers my entire life.
I have no doubt we have the people here who can do the work that is being transferred to Houston. However, and I do not know this for a fact, the people down there are already in place and not working to 100% level. Hence, it is much cheaper for the parent company to move them there.
I think anyone who has read my posts over time I am 150% in favor of local jobs. Just maybe in 5 years when this contract comes up we do have a company that can do the work and has the management in place to get the work. Yes, it is a sad day for Fort Wayne.
Jeff,
I have trouble seeing council members saying they will vote on something that is not complete when talking of something of this size in commitment and dollars. Keep in mind Mr. Didier is a salesmen and details are something that can be worked out later. The objective is to get the buyer’s name on the contract. I just hope he rethinks this when dealing with our taxdollars.
Oh, I forgot a tip of the hat to Mr. Pape. I am no fan of his but was highly impressed by his comments with regards to this issue.
JQ:
Moving folks from one point to another will not be in the best interest of the City of Fort Wayne/Allen County. The folks here know the systems,software,people they need to deal with, etc. Even if ATOS only brings a “management team” in, they will have a very long “ramp up” time before they will be of much value to the people that really need them. And……… NO BUDS FOR ME!
Karen Goldner is an idiot. Help desks jobs are not going to Houston.
Person 1,
If you are right then Mr. Clarke is wrong because I believe he is the one that confirmed they where going.
John,
My understanding is most of the software is off the shelf with custom modules (addons). I agree with the local people knowing the local people would be the best.
I can not argue for or against who got the contract as I have not read the mountain of paperwork. I did not set in on the interviews with the vendors. I have no clue if the spec was maybe written so only one company could win. I have no clue.
What I am saying is the topic got aired better then most. Council members made many valid points with their concerns. Mr. Clarke learned a lesson I am sure will help guide him the rest of his business life.
Sorry, Person1, but the contract says that the help desk will be in Houston. Whether any of the current help desk employees (either by name, position, or just a net number) will remain employed in other capacities in Fort Wayne is a mystery because that information wasn’t shared with Council.
As I’ve said before, the question of my being an idiot is still an open one. But in this case, all I’m doing is quoting the contract which is the controlling authority on this matter.
If person1 has a complete copy of the contract, would he/she please pass it along to the members of council so they can study it! There seems to be several “Blank” pages. Maybe the copy machine needs to be replaced.
In a debate between an commenter who is too shameful to leave his/her name and a councilwoman who is quite knowledgeable in this area concerned, I think I’ll go with Goldner.
Even if she is a Democrat. :)
Karen Goldner interacts with her constituents, and she knows we do care where our money goes, and who provides our City’s technology services.
Ms. Brown needs to become better acquainted with Fort Wayne’s working class, who are far better informed than she might imagine. Many of us “Buy American”, especially automobiles and heavy equipment. A great number consume locally grown foods and eat with the seasons. We’re considerably more concerned about balance of trade than she may be aware. And we are very concerned that good jobs stay right here. If we don’t take care of our own community, who will?
As part of the contract, specify that the help desk be set up locally. A careful conparison of cost of living in Houston vs. Fort Wayne may show that it is cost effective for ATOS to put the call center here. Did anybody ask?
Kudus to the Council for sending the Contract back to get the blanks filled. Now, negotiate the jobs back to Ft. Wayne. That size contract is worth a few concessions, and it is Council’s job to get them for us.
It would seem the retention of employees would be a negotiating point that council should take up. No doubt ATOS would have it’s own managers but to flush out all the knowledge accrued by the current employees would be detrimental to operations. Maybe someone can enlighten me on this. Is it to late to insert language in the contract?
I realize Mr. Clark is now in a real hurry for some reason and really“fast tracking” some of the “ity, bity, details”. But , since Mr. Pape rightly waved some real red flags, why can’t Council fill in some of the convenient “blank pages” with language that would be more in line with the goal of keeping jobs in Fort Wayne.
Ok Karen, you are caught in semantics. Currently, there are desktop technicians who have phone duty. Those will stay. More or less level 2 techs.
The Level one helpdesk. A.K.A. phone support will be in Houston. This does not mean loss of jobs. You are just screaming that the sky is falling. And I still believe you are an idiot as well as Mr. Clarke.
And you, Person1, are very, very brave.
Time will tell who is right and I do hope that I am wrong.
Regardless of how many employees will remain in Fort Wayne, the City and County lost a great opportunity to buy IT services while at the same time helping to build our local economy.
Cara,
Just exactly what the hell does consuming locally grown foods and eating with the seasons mean, and how does it have anything to do with this? Maybe we should be also measuring each bidders’ carbon footprint.
Have you been smoking something out of the victory gardens.
HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
Is this new math?
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