Adopt New Process For Muni. Building

This is an open letter to the Randolph Selectboard: Reference is made to the proposed addition to the municipal building.

First, let it be stated with clarity that we were never opposed to the addition and improvements as designed by Black River Architects. The Black River design graced the cover of the 2003 Town Report and a large rendering was presented for public review before the Nov. 2004 bond issue vote.

This design as presented to the voters enhanced the existing building, did not overtly impact the greensward, and did not destroy the historically (150 years) significant flowering crab apple tree.

It was assumed that with the approval of the bond, that the project was proceeding forward to construction drawings and bidding documents. Indeed, it would be fair to say that had that happened, the project would have been completed and the building occupied for over a year.

But that did not happen: indeed, for one hundred days nothing happened.

Then on February 14, 2005, the chairman of the selectboard, James Hutchinson, unilaterally, and without either public notice or board approval, signed a contract for a design-build project.

That this contract for $1.2 million, executed without a competitive bid process, violated the town of Randolph's own purchasing policy (in place since 1997) did not appear to either faze or deter Mr. Hutchinson.

And, as a consequence, there is still not an addition or improvements to the municipal building. But some $100,000 of taxpayer funds has already been expended for this illegal design/build scheme. This is malfeasance.

The design/build process is now tainted: $93,000 has been paid to the DuBois & King consortium for the aforementioned illegal design/build design contract. This places all other prospective bidders at a decided disadvantage. It is tantamount to continuing suspected corrupt practices to bid rigging. In order to level the playing field and avoid the charge of bid rigging every prospective bidder would have to receive $93,000 for their design/build bid.

It is obvious to this writer that the process is once again being manipulated, and the dire consequences may very well be additional lawsuits, additional expenditures of taxpayer monies, but no addition to the municipal building.

Wherefore, I respectfully request that this selectboard, some of whom were not on the board in 2005, reconsider their vote of April 10, 2007.

William KevanRandolph