Though there will be more on this Friday, this is is from Republican mayoral candidate Ken Johnson today:
The situation I was referring to was an RFP released by the council/real estate committee in March 2006 to hire a real estate broker to help dispose of excess city-owned property. 12 bids were received by the city on 4/18/06, including 9 from Bristol-based firms (including mine). The list of proposals was to be narrowed and then bidders were to be invited in to make their pitch with a formal presentation to the committee. Many local companies were not satisfied that the process was done properly when presentations were cancelled and it was it was announced that the bid was awarded to an out-of-town company (Berarducci Realtors in Plainville).
Other Bristol firms were unhappy because they either were not mailed a bid package or they were unaware of the opportunity to bid. I think the question being asked as a result was: Were local firms given every reasonable opportunity to bid on the project and every reasonable consideration to be selected?
A couple of important points:
-I'm not certain that Ward took exception to my answer to this question last night. In any event, my answer was not an attack on Ward as Ward had nothing to do with it.
-I have the utmost faith and confidence in our purchasing agent so please make sure that my answer is not misinterpreted in that way. In fact, to the contrary, in my opinion, our purchasing agent is highly competent, highly professional individual and we are fortunate to have a gentleman of such high moral character and ethical standards serving our City.
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
30 comments:
Ken, I followed this issue closely and you are dead wrong. In fact, you just lost my vote. They followed the procedure perfectly and they chose the firm that they felt would best handle the job. Sometimes that means hiring out of town people.
Since you are a real estate worker it sounds to me like you are a little to close to the situation to be unbiased. Maybe you submitted a bid for this real estate job and you got denied. If so then you have no integrity. Shame on you.
Johnson knocks the city of Bristol and its government, then apologizes to his friend and acting buddy, the purchasing agent.
What about the rest of the council, what about the rest of the staff, what about the citizens?
As a Real Estate agent one that has had business with the city, why did he not speak out at the time?
Was he "too busy", as he was to too busy to attend other meetings also?
Ken, you were wrong, you are wrong, and you owe everyone an apology.
Oh did Johnson did you not get an RFP at your realestate business? Gee city gave you $10,000 on a contract for the light overcharges and YOU NEVER HONORED YOUR CONTRACT, BUT YOU TOOK THE MONEY.
So why didn't Johnson step up and express his opinions when the issue was being considered by the Real Estate Committee, when the RFP's were advertised or when the issue was on the council floor for discussion?
Being a realtor, you would think that he would have presented his views if the Conveyance Tax was actually to be such a burden on the Real Estate industry.
The reality is that Mr. Johnson
was not involved then, is not there now and will not be there tomorrow.
We need a mayor who can step up to the plate when the game is on, not when the lights are going out.
Story that I wrote on Tuesday, October 03, 2006:
BRISTOL – Despite concerns from some Bristol real estate agents, the city has hired the Plainville-based Berarducci Realtors to handle its sale of surplus residential property.
The move, approved last month by city councilors, allow Berarducci to seek out buyers for a growing list of residential buildings and lots that Bristol has acquired over the years but doesn’t have any use for.
Councilor Kevin McCauley called it “a pilot program” that aims to bring in revenue for the city by selling property that taxpayers don’t need.
The money that comes in from any sales will help hold down taxes and fund government project and services, officials said.
Councilor Frank Nicastro said the city’s Real Estate Committee, which he chairs, sorted through hundreds of potential pieces of property to see what could be sold off. The city hired one firm to handle commercial property and turned to Berarducci to sell the residential portion.
The city advertised for real estate agents who were interested to submit proposals during the summer. Berarducci’s was “head and shoulders above” the rest of the submissions, McCauley said.
But when city Realtors found out in August, some griped about officials hiring an out-of-town firm to sell property in Bristol.
Nicastro said his committee met with three agents in August to explain what happened and how. He said they expressed their concerns and listened to details of how the choice was made.
“We weren’t snubbing anybody from Bristol,” Nicastro said.
Councilor Mike Rimcoski, who serves on the Real Estate Committee with Nicastro and McCauley, said the panel “worked very hard” and arrived at the right choice.
“It wasn’t close,” he said, because Berarducci had the best offer by far.
McCauley and Nicastro said that the city can always switch to another Realtor down the road if it isn’t satisfied with the way Berarducci handles the sales.
Councilor Art Ward, who expressed concern about the hiring in August, said that he supported giving Berarducci the contract because Nicastro’s committee took the initiative to meet with aggrieved city Realtors and talk with them.
For the city’s commercial property, councilors endorsed hiring Advance Realty of Bristol in June.
Officials expect to report this fall how the selling effort is shaping up
Another relevant story that I wrote, on Friday, July 28, 2006:
Nicastro, Kosta swap charges
By Steve Collins
The Bristol Press
BRISTOL – The decision by city leaders to hire a Plainville real estate agent to handle the sale of city-owned property has come under fire.
“We should be taking care of our own,” said state Rep. Kosta Diamantis, a Bristol Democrat who’s locked in an Aug. 8 primary battle against city Councilor Frank Nicastro.
Nicastro chaired the Real Estate Committee that unanimously recommended the City Council hire the Plainville-based Berarducci Realtors to cover the city’s sale of surplus residential property.
“I don’t know what he was thinking,” said Diamantis. “Does he honestly think there’s no one capable of selling real estate in Bristol?”
“It just defies logic,” said Diamantis, an attorney.
Nicastro defended the move and accused Diamantis of “looking for excuses to cover up his own ineffectiveness” by making unwarranted accusations against him.
Supporters of the real estate choice defended it and pointed out that Diamantis, who spearheaded the city’s effort to buy the downtown mall last year, has no business talking about good real estate decisions.
“Kosta should talk about deals,” said Republican city Councilor Mike Rimcoski. “I challenge Kosta with why he bought that white elephant.”
Citing the ongoing battle to oust Ocean State Job Lot, Rimcoski said, “This guy left a seven-year lease hanging out there. Perry Mason he isn’t.”
Nicastro said the three-person real estate panel reviewed all of the requests that came in to handle the city’s residential property sales on a trial basis. Each of the members, as well as city Purchasing Agent Roger Rousseau, agreed that Berarducci was the best choice.
“I had Berarducci as my premier candidate,” Rousseau said, partly because it was the only one that expressed concern about how a buyer would use the property after the city sells it. The impact of plans on the community matters, he said.
Berarducci “offered the best package” of all the firms that sought the city’s business, Rimcoski said.
Even so, “we probably should have delved into it a little bit more,” said Councilor Art Ward, the most senior Democrat on the council.
He said that picking Berarducci because it offered to take 1 percent less on its commission was a mistake.
Such a small savings for the city “just doesn’t justify bypassing the local firms” that have paid taxes and offered employment in Bristol for years, Ward said.
The percentage savings “is meaningless in the big picture,” Diamantis said.
To bypass Bristol’s real estate agents, Ward said, would require “a great, great, great disparity” in the commissions sought.
Nicastro said the lower commission was only one of the reasons that Berarducci got the nod.
He said he has no doubt that some Bristol firms could perhaps have bested Berarducci but many of them didn’t respond to the four newspaper advertisements, news stories and other pleas that agents try to secure the city’s real estate business.
Rimcoski said that “if all things are even and good” between competing companies “I would go with Bristol” firms whenever possible.
But, he said, doing the best thing for taxpayers can mean choosing outsiders willing to do the job cheaper.
Diamantis said that “feeding Bristol business to another town” doesn’t make any sense when there are many Bristol Realtors who would gladly take on the assignment.
“There’s a ton of them, owned by Democrats, owned by Republicans, owned by unaffiliateds,” the lawmaker said.
“We should be taking care of our own,” he said.
Ward said that he is “somewhat surprised that Frank would let this slip” through the Real Estate Committee “after all the years he tried to recruit and help local businesses.”
The other members of the real estate panel, each of whom supported hiring the Plainville firm, are Councilors Kevin McCauley and Rimcoski. McCauley is a Democrat.
Diamantis said he’s concerned that Nicastro doesn’t recognize that he needs to put Bristol above all.
“I guess I’m hoping that Frank isn’t up there” in Hartford “advocating more money for Plainville instead of taking care of Bristol first,” Diamantis said.
Nicastro said that everyone knows that he always puts Bristol first
And one more old story to round out the issue, from Friday, November 24, 2006:
BRISTOL – Instead of turning to real estate brokers to line up buyers for surplus city-owned property, some say it ought to auction off excess buildings and land.
An auction brings in “the fairest price and most money,” said Tim Chapulis, owner of Tim’s Auctions on Farmington Avenue.
Chapulis chided city leaders for relying on commercial and residential real estate agents to sell property the government doesn’t want anymore. He especially took issue with the City Council’s unanimous decision to turn to a Plainville Realtor to peddle surplus residential homes and lots.
“It’s very disheartening the council chose to go out of town” when there are so many qualified agents in Bristol, said Chapulis, a Litchfield resident.
“That was a black eye for every business in this town,” Chapulis said.
Councilors agreed recently to have the Plainville-based Berarducci Realtors handle the sale of a handful of surplus residential properties.
For the city’s commercial property, councilors endorsed hiring Advance Realty of Bristol in June.
City Councilor Frank Nicastro, who heads the Real Estate Committee, said the possibility of auctioning some surplus property is on the table and might be tried in the future.
“We are looking at everything,” he said, in a quest to bring in as much new revenue as possible to help hold down tax hikes.
Nicastro said the choice of Berarducci “doesn’t mean our real estate people in Bristol are bad people. Heck, no.”
He said that Berarducci simply made the best offer to the city. It deserves a chance to prove it can deliver, Nicastro said.
“Politics wasn’t played here,” Nicastro said.
Chapulis said that he spoke with Mayor William Stortz and councilors last winter about the potential of turning to auctions to sell the excess property the real estate panel was eyeing for a return to the tax rolls.
“Somebody missed the ball here,” he said, by opting instead of hire out-of-town real estate agents to find buyers.
He said auctions are “the fairest way” to sell property because it’s all done out in the open. Everyone can see that the highest bid wins the right to make the purchase, Chapulis said.
“We’re always interested in getting more money,” Stortz said.
the question that keeps echoing throughout the city whenever johnson whines "poor me" is WHERE WAS HE WHEN ANY OF THESE CONCERNS WERE BEING ADDRESSED?
Where will he be when other issues need to be addressed? What would lead us to believe he will step up to the plate, will he opt to serve in absentia while collecting a pay check, like the Municipal Energy duping that he gave to the taxpayers, or will he just continue to bash the city of bristol and it's people rather than seek solutions?
Question still is - why didn't Ken make an issue then, why wait until now? Johnson was not involved in any issues he is bringing forward NOW that he is running for Mayor. You lost my vote Johnson, not just becasue of this, but this added to your pile of trash.
It's fascinating to see Ken taking the same losing tack on this issue that Kosta did last year. Why would Ken think this would help him when Art was probably the most skeptical council member of the whole deal at the time it went down, and even he didn't hint something was shady about it!
I don't understand what possessed Ken to make such a stupid comment.
The City advertised the RFP appropriately as it does with all RFP's. It's a systematic process that has worked for all other RFP's in the past.
It isn't the City's responsibility to hunt down the real estate businesses. If they had bothered to check the paper for the RFP they would have found it. And if the agents had bothered to follow the articles prior to the RFP, they would have had the heads up that the bid opportunity was coming soon.
Johnson needs to stop blaming everyone else for his own mistakes.
It's curious how Johnson attacks the contract but praises Roger Rousseau given that Steve's story last year says this:
Purchasing Agent Roger Rousseau, agreed that Berarducci was the best choice.
“I had Berarducci as my premier candidate,” Rousseau said, partly because it was the only one that expressed concern about how a buyer would use the property after the city sells it. The impact of plans on the community matters, he said.
It is ODD to see Ken pick an issue that Art handled well but puts both Rimcoski and Rousseau on the firing line. Stupid!! And I don't see that anyone did anything wrong, except Ken.
KEN HAS NO IDEA WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT - SOUNDS MORE AND MORE LIKE STORTZ EACH DAY HE OPENS HIS MOUTH.
Good Old Arty!
I wish all you Arty supporters would start to look at "your man" I'm tired of listening to people say its his turn to be mayor. It's not about turns, it's about being the most qualified! What does Good Old Arty bring to the table? 14 years as a councilman, BIG DEAL! I'd rather have a person in the leadership seat who can lead!
Will he be watching the meetings on TV with a bear bottle on the desk? Will city hall have it's own " watering hole" or perhaps they will just move the meetings to Jakes? After all, that's where you find the Dem's after meetings anyway.
Then we have McCauley and Minor. Will they have to take a break to go and call Ellen so they can see how to vote?
Lets also not forget Lydem! A union lobbyist. Hmmmm....when it comes to votes for contracts will he vote for us the taxpayers or his union buddies? Since he has gotten much of his money from the unions my money says that's where his vote will go!
But stortz is better looking!
Steve,
Thanks for posting old articles. By any chance, have you come across the one about Art being arrested for DRUNK DRIVING? When was that anyway?
Inquiring minds still want to know.
As I have posted a couple of times, I do not have the story about Ward's drunk driving arrest. It occurred in July 1997. You are more than welcome to go look it up at the library. It's on microfilm. Personally, my eyes get blurry looking at microfilm so I'm not going to volunteer for the task.
If somebody wants to get a copy, type it up, and provide me with an electronic version that matches the photocopy, then I'll post it here. It's not without relevance. It's just old.
For what it's worth, I see Ward many nights a month and I haven't noticed any sign in years that he's a drunk. I don't think he drinks much anymore, but I'm not watching him day and night.
Steve, some people will never free themselves from the past. This happened over 10 years ago!
I guess when the Repulicans get desperate they attack as far back as they can go!!
I am tired of the dirty tricks they are pulling, the bashing of ALL DEMS. Yes a few need to go, but not all. If you can't find anything worthwhile to say please find another blog!!
Michael P.
I love seeing the desperation of a bunch of republicans trying to convince the public that they have any respect for common decency - in order for the public to see it, the gop has to practice it and so far they are losing there also - grow up for goodness sake.
Yes, it's only ok for Dems to bash Dems, like all of the stuff Ward and his crew pulled on Zoppo.
To the poster at 11:24. I'd like to know how many of them "bear bottles" you knocked back before you wrote that rambling little diatribe?
Zoppo did her own self in - her smug attitude, her I am better then you, etc...now can we all move on?
Too bad Johnsons background wasn't in the papers: we could then get a better picture of him.
Real Estate Agent touting for Real Estate Agents.
City contract, non performance.
City Contract how did he get it?
Nice to have some answers
if johnson had attended any of these meetings, he might have a clue as to what he is saying - AND NOT SAY IT.
everytime that he makes a statement, he falls into a cesspool of apologies and cover-up opinions. Get the facts ken, for a change.
I didn't know that a requirement to run for public office was that you HAD to attend Council meetings?
Who in thier right mind would want to sit through that dog and pony show?
It sure wouldn't get any emmy's of TV.
so are you suggesting that Ken's acting as an informed concerned citizen will get him an Oscar nomination? NOT!
Ken,
If not Ward, who were you attacking?
TO the poster on 10/26 at 9:51pm.
Ken Johnson's background is quite well known:
He is a very talented actor who graduated first in his class.
actually, He is a successful Northeast Utilities executive.
hmmmm...no wait....he is a successful businessman getting paid to obtain refunds from Northeast Utilities for cities and towns. I think he was working on this for Bristol but decided that it was time to run for Mayor and had to sell his share of the company.
no wait....he is a successful real estate agent who lost the chance to sell city owned property but he isn't bitter about it. Nope bitter at all, just desperate.
oops wrong again....Ken Johnson is the guy who is running for Mayor of Bristol and putting Bristol first.....yeah right!
I'm sorry your right I was unable to answer your question.....Steve next time you talk to Ken could you ask him what he wants to be when he grows up?
It's not a requirement to attend council meetings, but don't parade around in your orange shirt three months before the election and profess you care about what's going on and that goes for any of the new candidates running for council. I'm sick and tired of seeing people who attack those who have tried to move things along just show up at the end of the two years hollering to the rafters about what hasn't been done when they should have been there from day one looking into things they weren't happy about, i.e. the real estate committee decision, or any of a number of other issues they profess to have an answer for. Don't tell me you care when you haven't been there to attend meetings as a concerned citizen. It's a sham and we can all see through it.
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