Level playing field

Over the past year there has been much debate centered on providing a level playing field, a foundation for competition that is equal for all.

From extending alcohol sales for Port St. Joe establishments or creating a new state high school athletic classification for small rural schools, leveling the field has become almost cliché.

But as reported this week by reporter Valerie Garman not all playing fields, for example the one the Gulf Tourist Development Council, or at least its executive director, is playing on, are level, as evidenced by the recent hiring of Amber Davis and her company for contract work.

The TDC, though several board members said they had no knowledge of the hiring, contracted with Davis and her company to provide professional services for TDC events through April 2012.

The contracts, or memorandums of understanding, for a total of nearly $25,000, however, were written in increments that by all appearances seem designed to circumvent county bidding rules that mandate anything over $10,000 be put out for bid.

The first payment to Davis totaled $3,500 for her professional services and another $6,000-plus for supplies and marketing for the golden scallop promotion. No single MOU reaches the threshold of $10,000.

Leave aside for this discussion the fact that Davis is linked socially with County Commissioner Bill Williams.

As one TDC board member suggested the entire episode not only stinks it is “rancid” on its face.

First, there would be a question of just how much the TDC requires in assistance to market any event. This is an organization flush with cash from a BP settlement to seven Florida counties to enhance tourism.

This is an office operated by an executive director, Tim Kerigan, whose taxpayer-paid salary of over $50,000 is pretty well above average for this county.

And when it comes to marketing events, until the contracts with Davis were signed in early August, all marketing for PoJo had come from Kerigan Marketing under a county contract it secured last year.

Why the need for additional marketing services? The Chamber of Commerce had a model for bringing in extra help for events – they were called volunteers. They were plentiful and free.

And, in the case of the golden scallop promotion, this is an event that only took shape the past month – how much marketing extended beyond the borders of Gulf County?

Why doesn’t this promotion begin in June with the start of scallop season and serve as a season-long event? How is this event in need of an additional $3,000 “professional services” contract?

The event, as offered late in the season, seems a way to toss BP money around with no apparent purpose beyond steering business in a desired direction.

Further, the TDC board had issues over the hire.

Meeting minutes reflect that some board members had heartburn concerning whether the MOUs with Davis were a contract in search of a Request for Proposals.

There is a measuring stick for such a situation – if you have to ask, chances are strong that an RFP is not only needed, but should be required if for nothing other than adhering to transparent governance procedures.

TDC meeting minutes also reflect that after a general discussion about going out for bid, a discussion about how much to pay Davis – she requested $50 an hour – there was silence on the subject for two subsequent meetings, a span during which Davis entered into the series of MOUs with Tim Kerigan.

The TDC board does not appear to have taken an official vote on the final MOUs.

Consider the contrasting views of this scenario.

When contacted about the arrangement with Davis, Tim Kerigan pronounced it not a big deal, that the TDC had needed help with events, had been approached by Davis and put Davis under contract.

However, county attorney Jeremy Novak expressed concern about bidding requirements, stating only the Board of County Commissioners had the power to approve contracts over $10,000 and that Kerigan could not unilaterally act where commissioners had the final say.

Novak took the position a step beyond, saying he would be attending TDC meetings to ensure compliance with county rules and urged Kerigan to put everything he is doing as TDC executive director in the sunshine, in the eyes of the public and commissioners.

But this sort of action has too often been part of the county’s DNA and that the BOCC chairman – who, as a TDC board member, seconded a motion to hire some event help with no parameters set – was remotely in support of this contractual hocus pocus speaks volumes.

At its most fundamental, local government is in place to ensure fairness for all, that those who might not be part of the morning coffee klatch, the post-commission card games or a member of the proper church congregation, gets a fair shake.

And there is no more appropriate place than in bidding for county business.

If taxpayers can’t rely on a level field from an entity that spends public funds, the adage that holds that who you know is more important than what you know prevails.

There is every potential that Davis offers an appropriate service to the TDC.

There is also every possibility that in a county where unemployment remains stuck in double figures, there are others with equal or better skill sets who would find $25,000 a lifeline in tough times.

But until entities funded by public dollars act with probity and fairness in spending the funds they are entrusted with instead of providing the perception that the inside track to the pie belongs only to insiders, government has flunked the trust test.

And with trust gone any credibility that the playing field is level is out the window.