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HomeMy WebLinkAbout760674.tiff A • //C( e y ; WELY C3'.'N11 rib•°°•0""/ • MINUTES �Irr•;j l/ e'�t1• "4 % WELD MINTY COUNCIL March 3, 1976 1 MAR 8 1976 LI OREBLCY. COLO. The Weld County Council met in regular session in full conformity with the Weld County Home Rule Charter at 401 N. 15th Avenue, Greeley, Colorado, on Wednesday, March 3, 1976 at the hour of 1 o'clock. ROLL CALL: The meeting began with an invocation by'the president, John T. Martin and on roll call the following members were present: President, John T. Martin Vice President, Nanny Clark Floyd Oliver, Councilman lacy Wilkinson, Councilman rob E. White, Councilman Also present: Bonnie Hickman, Secretary, and five members of the press. MINUTES APPROVED: The Council approved the minutes of February 18, 1976. Bob White made the motion that the minutes be accepted with a second by Lacy Wilkinson. Carried unanimously. The minutes of February 23, 1976 were presented for approval. Floyd Oliver made a motion that the next to the last paragraph on page two he deleted from the records. There was question as to the accuracy and pertinence of the information recorded. Bob White seconded the motion. After short discussion, Mr. Oliver resinded his motion, Bob White following. Floyd Oliver made a motion to accept the minutes of February 23, 1976. Nancy Clark seconded. Unanimously carried. REPORTS • FINANCE, CENTRAL PURCHASING, PERSONNEL: Lacy Wilkinson presented a brief report on the wages paid to Mr. Samuel Telep, Acting County Attorney for Weld County during the year of 1975. The total remunerations were $78,807.15. Included in this figure is $36,782.61 for services rendered to the Welfare Department. • 760674 • Minutes of County Colrl Page 2 March 3, 1976 • Lacy Wilkinson made a report concerning a letter received from Mr. Perry Holcomb, Director of Contract Sales, of Kistler Kwill Office Supply commenting on the awarding of the bids for furniture for the new Weld County Services Complex. The letter stated that their total lump sum bid for all items, excluding Bid Item 10, was appreciably lower than the total of bids accepted by the County Commissioners. They also stated that the Nelson Bid originally submitted was changed and covered only a portion of the items called for in the bid documents. They felt that if the condition of "Local Interest Preference" is invoked by the Commissioners, this should be made part of the bid documents. "When bidders are invited to submit bids, conditions and specifications contained in the bid documents should apply equally to all invited bidders and awards should be made to the lowest bidder meeting the conditions and specifications. " It was decided that this matter would be taken up at the next regular meeting, in lieu of the fact that the Council would be adjourning at 2:00 P.K,. to attend the work session of the County Commissioners regarding the hiring of a county attorney. Mr. Wilkinson also added that he had called CNC/NHPQ Inc. (regarding the Nelson bid) to verify the fact that they had made a statement at the time that the bids were open that all the bids and all the items bid on met to the specifications. He was told that this was a true statement. He also added that the total difference between the lowest bids and the ones accepted was a little over $11,000. It was suggested by Mrs. Clark that Mr. Wilkinson prepare a list of items that the Council might review in this area and present it at the next regular meeting. HIRING OF COUNTY ATTORNEY: Floyd Oliver presented a report on Review Questions 1, 4 and 5 established at the last meeting of February 23, 1976. • His : apart was based on consultation with an attorney living in Weld County. (see attached report) This attorney informed Mr. Oliver that the only was to properly advertise for an attorney is in the Colorado Lawyer, the official publication of the Colorado Bar Association. It was added that the Commissioners did not advertise in this publication for the position of county attorney. Bob F. White presented a report on Review Questions 112 and /13. (see attached report) He also presented an additional report which was a statement signed by several of the former Charter Commi sion Members. This statement stated that the former members affirmed that it was their intention under Section 5-2 of the Charter that the qualifications of the County Attorney be that of a duly licensed attorney licensed to practice law for the State of Colorado for at least five years. The term "for the State of Colorado" means being Minutes of County Cnr\il Page 3 March 3, 1976 licensed in the State of Colorado, therefore qualified to work as an employee in the law profession in any legal profession whatsoever. Discussion followed. John Martin suggested securing an attorney through reans different than that of advertising. Namely, that the Commissioners select an attorney known by them in whom they have confidence, and ask him to work for the county. Nancy Clark briefly reported on the real estate alternatives needed for hiring a county attorney and assistants. She reported that there is convenient office space available surrounding the Court House, but will discuss this more at a later meeting. ;ors. Clark also checked on the possibility of Mr. Telep desiring to stay on the county payroll for the purpose of collecting retirement insurance. This did not seem to be a valid reason since a person qualifying for retirement must work 10 years for the County and Mr. Telep has not worked for even 9 consecutive years. Also, no money has been placed in retirement for him, according to the Accounting Department. Discussion followed, led by Bob White, if the action to adjourn at 2:00 P.M. to attend the Commissioner's Work Session had been made official. Nancy Clark commented that the president had agreed with her as to the necessity of adjourning to attend this meeting. The Councilmen, press and Commissioners were then notified. Nancy Clark then made a motion that the Council attend the Work Session scheduled at 2;00 P.M. planned for the purpose of discussing the county attorney. Floyd Oliver seconded. Discussion followed. Bob White disagreed because the Council 's purpose is to review and report to the proper official, and if they don't do the needed corrections, then it is the Council 's duty to report to the people, Nancy Clark felt that the work session was obviously scheduled at a time when the Council could not attend. Since no minutes are received from these work sessions, Floyd Oliver suggested the Council attend. • A roll call vote was taken. Results 4-1, Bob White voting "nay." Nancy Clark made a motion that the Council accept the two reports as read and that the information be presented to the Commissioners at the Work Session if deemed appropriate by the President. Floyd Oliver seconded. 'Unanimously carried. The meeting was adjourned at 2:00 P.M. by the President in order to attend the Commissioners 's 1,^cr!' Session. Respectfully submitted, ;C.? ) _ �� �/';�. l APPROVED Bonnie Hickman, Secretary President • r-7/7, 4690 I( MONTBELLO P. O. BOX 5328 DENVER JLO. 80217 303-371-0550 KISTLER KWILL February 27, 1976 Weld County Office of the Director of Management 1516 Hospital Road Greeley, Co 80631 Re: Weld County Services Complex Project No. 71-1-ARC-0162 Office Furniture and Equipment Bid Package - January 27, 1976 Gentlemen: We have been informed by CNC/NHPQ Inc. , that the Weld County Commissioners have decided to award to our company a contract for items No. 2 (ash trays) , Item No. 11 (Artwork - Tom True Co.) and Item No. 12 (Artwork - Olympus) as acceptable items on the subject bid. • We reject the commissioners decision and will not accept the order for these items. In accordance with the conditions and specifications of the bid documents , the Kistler I(will bid was clearly low on Bid Items 2, 8, 9, 11 , 12 and 14 and Section 12610 (Landscape Office System) . In addition , our total lump • sum bid in the amount of $154,632.72 for all items exclu- ding Bid Item 10 is appreciably lower than the total of bids accepted by the County Commissioners. It is evident that the Nelson Bid on Item 9 (Files) has been changed from the bid originally submitted and read at the bid opening. The Nelson Bid originally submitted was read at $9,727.50 and covered only a portion of the items called for in the bid documents . It is our under- . KWILL OFFICE SUPPLY COMPANY OFFICE SUPPLIES FURNITURE DESIGN t 1/ L \ Weld County KISTLER ICWILL February 27, 1976 • Page 2 , standing that the award in the amount of $11 ,907.00 still does not include all items specified. We can understand the principal of "Local Interest Preference" invoked by the commissioners . However, if this condition is in effect it should be made part of the bid documents . When bidders are invited to submit bids , conditions and specifications contained in the bid documents should apply equally to all invited bidders and awards should be made to the lowest bidder meeting the conditions and specifications. Sincerely, WILL FFI SUPPL 0. M. Perry Holcom Director Contract Sales MPH:ymg • cc: Lacy Wilkinson 1708 17th Ave. Greeley, Co 80631 • cc: CNC/NHPQ, Inc. 2021 Clubhouse Drive Greeley, Co 80631 Attn: Rod Hawes .-� Report on Review Questions 1, 4 and 5 Mr. Floyd Oliver, Councilman I talked with the attorney that lives in Weld County and received the following information from him -- Item ill, "Methods and procedures in regard to advertising for attorneys. " He informed me that the only way to properly advertise for an attorney is in the Colorado Lawyer, the official publication of the Colorado Bar Association. This publication comes out monthly and all members of the Colorado Bar Association receive it and use it for information especially for employment when they are job seeking. He informs me and I agree with him, that lawyers don't read the want-ads in the local newspapers. Item 114, "Availability of attorneys seeking employment. " He informs me that many of the attorneys in Greeley and Weld County would welcome a full time job. There is some concern that the position might get into politics, but this could be handled by a long term contract with a minimum of four years duration. He also informed me that the reason attorneys in Weld County had not applied for the position is the unsettled conditions in the County Commissioners' office, mainly the one-man rule. Item P5, "Expert opinions in regard to compensation or salary needed for a qualified attorney." He thinks that with job security, a top qualified attorney could be hired for $25,000 to $30,000 annual salary. He thinks that qualified assistants could be obtained from $13,000 to $15,000 per year. • • Floyd 0liver,) Councilman Review and report on the questions #2 and #3. #2 "Review of charter provisions and intent of Home Rule Commission in regard to establishment of the Department of Law. #3 "Reasons for delay in appointing a full time county attorney and possible alternatives to these reasons." Section 5-1 (1 ). (2) , (3) Establishes the Department of Law and gives the Commissioners the authority and duty to appoint the County Attorney and such assistant attorneys as is considered necessary. Section 5-2 This section deals with the qualifications of the county attorney, and states that he shall be a duly licensed attorney for the State of Colorado for at least five years immediately prior to his appointment and shall have been actively engaged in the practice of law during such five years. The reasons for delay in hiring a full time county attorney seems to be lack of response to advertising efforts by fully qualified applicants. And, concern over the use of the word "for the State of Colorado. " !'.ecermenried Solution: Fully qualified professional attorneys will probably be reluctant to respond to advertiscnents. It is our feeling that the Commissioners should select a layer in whom they have confidence and attempt to secure his services. It is our understanding that the use of the word "for" as it is used in Section 5-2 is not unusual terminology. It means very simply that they are licensed Lo practice law "for" the Courts of Colorado. Another reason given for delay in the appointment of a county attorney seems to be the pending Civil Action No. 28085. It might be well to consider that th ) Commissioners did take an oath by the Everliving God to support the Nome Rule Charter of Weld County,and although there seems to be some confusion in regard to the qualifications for a county attorney, there appears to be no reason for delay in the establishment of the Department of Law and the appointment of an assistant attorney which could of course, he appointed as acting counby attorrey until such time as the Commissioners feel that they 1/4 are ready to appoint the county attorney. Section 5-3 - Duties Section 5-4 - Special Counsel This section tells us that the board may appoint special counsel for the specific resons such as in^estigations and for representing the county in suits. It doesn't seem to give permission to the Commissioners to hire "special counsel" in place of a county attorney or -to have "special counsel" perform any of the ordinaty day-to-day functions delegated to the Department of Law. Prepared by: 17)/ /:-/ �" .-.eye,- Jahn T. Martin Bob E. White Hello