The Herkimer County Legislature Wednesday approved the purchase of equipment and furniture from three companies for the Herkimer County Community College Library addition and renovations project.
The resolution, passed by a vote of 16-1, awarded the contract for audio and visual equipment to Voorhesville-based ComTech, Inc. in the amount of $102,058.81; the contract for digital signage to Schenectady-based Imperatives, Inc. in the amount of $71,595 and the furniture contract to Mohawk-based Hummel’s Office Plus in the amount of $215,609.08.
District 2 Legislator Helen Rose cast the dissenting vote, as she had issues with the bid process.
“I have concerns with the competitive nature of the bid practices employed by the college,” said Rose. “I called several vendors with the interest of understanding how the bid process works, and learned that they had concerns with the specifications put forth in the bid package and whether or not the deadlines could be met. Some of the vendors told me that the specifications were written in such a vague manner that a number of change orders can be expected in the future. With the amount of money imparted by this resolution, I take issue with the lack of competition.”
Rose added that only one bid was received for the audio and visual equipment and digital signage contracts.
Budget Officer Bernard Decker said Hummel’s and Staples bid on the furniture contract, with a $15,000-$20,000 difference between the two.
Rose said she did not have a problem awarding the furniture contract to Hummel’s Office Plus and supporting the local business because there was competition. “The other bids did not see competition, and that is why I can not support this resolution,” she said.
In other business Wednesday:
•Isabella Crandall, of Herkimer, and Timothy Dunn, of Mohawk, were appointed as new trustees to Herkimer County Community College.
Crandall’s term expires on June 30, 2012, and Dunn’s term expires on June 39, 2009.
“I look forward to getting to work,” said Dunn, as he thanked the legislature for his appointment.
•The legislature, by a vote of 9-8, and in connection with the Help America Vote Act of 2002, approved the release of funds for the purchase of 41 ballot marking devices with disabled capabilities. The devices will be used in each of the 34 polling sites in Herkimer County.
The cost of the purchase is $471,500, with five percent, or $23,575, in local matching funds.
Legislators Vincent Bono, Leonard Hendrix, Robert Hyde, Bernard Peplinski, John Piseck, Patrick Russell, Raymond Smith and Bruce Weakley cast the no votes, as the five percent in local matching funds was higher than originally estimated.
•Donald Bronson, of Herkimer, was appointed to the Herkimer County Ethics Board. His three-year term expires on April 21, 2011.
•Rivett’s Boat Livery was awarded the contract for dockage of the county’s one patrol boat during the 2008 summer season, running from May 15 to no later than October 15, for a sum not to exceed $1,325. The Herkimer County Sheriff’s Department maintains a boat patrol on the Fulton Chain of Lakes and has need to dock the patrol boat in the Old Forge area for the summer season.
•Kenneth Edick, of Fort Plain, Michael Ervin, of Middleville, James G. Harkins, of Newport, Richard Levonski, of Dolgeville, Richard L. Nichols, of Dolgeville, Robert Parese, of Little Falls, and Neal Winkler, of Salisbury Center, were among those appointed to the fire advisory board.
Their terms are for two years.