Freeholders Switch Guards’ Departments, Take Other Actions at Meeting

CREST HAVEN – The Nov. 22 meeting of the Board of Chosen Freeholders featured a long list of resolutions that authorized new or renewed existing contracts, approved several grants, and identified next year’s  projected county expenditures and who will deliver government services.  
Some of those authorizations include:
A contract to build a new primate exhibit at the zoo for $1.2 million to Aliano Bros. General Contractors.
A resolution that current security guard personnel will be transferred from the Sheriff’s Office to the Office of Emergency Management.
The county accepted a grant of $81,749 from the state Department of Law and Public Safety for use by the county Gang, Guns and Narcotics Enforcement Task Force to aid in the identification of violent gang members and their associates.
The county intends to apply for two grants totaling more than $110,000 from the state Department of Children and Families ($70,387 and $39,825).
The county also intends to create a pool of Professional Traffic and Roadside Engineering Services consultants through a fair and open process to provide traffic engineering services on an “as needed” basis.
A contract was awarded to South State Inc. for repairs to the abutment areas on Ocean Drive bridges over Grassy Sound and Stone Harbor of $226,423.
A resolution rejected all proposals received Nov. 10 to provide Certified Home Health Aides, and Homemaker Care Services (HCS) was approved.
When that resolution was passed, Edward Sheppard of HCS in Ocean City stood to express his frustration that the board rejected all proposals without comment, and without informing those who submitted bids of the decision, nor explained the reason why all bids were rejected. 
Sheppard complained that the agenda for the meeting had not been posted and he wanted to know what was going on and why there was a vote taken without any explanation. 
Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton stated that the proposals were rejected at the request of the county purchasing agent, and that is all he knows of the matter.
Sheppard retorted that he wondered why a vote was being taken when the board has no idea what they are rejecting.
County Counsel James Arsenault responded that the purchasing agent rejected all proposals because there was to be a substantial revision to the specifications.
Sheppard stated that he was concerned because the website directed bidders to file an (Open Public Records Act) OPRA request to see details of the process, but that he is concerned that his competition would then have access to the details of his company’s bid.
Thornton assured Sheppard that they would ensure that the bid specifics would not be available to the public. Thornton agreed to try to expedite the new specifications and re-issue the requests for proposals as soon as possible.
To contact Jim McCarty, email jmccarty@cmcherald.com.