Holbrook City Council Questions Expenditures

By Linda Kor
   During the Holbrook City Council meeting held Tuesday evening, several council members had questions regarding expenditures made on behalf of the city.
   One of the items discussed was the expense of technical services.
   “What I’d like to have clarified is the $1,991.76 to Time Clock Plus for a technical assistance contract,” said Councilman Kent Darris.
   “In May we purchased a time clock system from Time Clock Plus. In September (city clerk) Cher (Milage) was helping to get time clock on the server and we needed assistance. The only option available was to purchase a one-year technical service contract with Time Clock Plus,” explained Finance Director Randy Sullivan.
   Sullivan did not satisfy Darris with the response.
   “I specifically remember talking with (Councilman) Carlisle at a council meeting prior to purchasing this system, and we asked you if we would receive training if we purchased this system. At that time you said we would have training for 90 days,” stated Darris.
   “Training did come with the system, but this is technical assistance, which is above and beyond that,” stated Sullivan. “The first 90 days was set-up. Not only did we need help setting up, but in case we had problems.”
   Darris looked pointedly at Sullivan and stated that he would be looking into this.
   “We spent a lot of money to get this system and now we are being asked to pay nearly $2,000 in additional funds because it was not set-up when it should have been,” he stated.
   Councilman Wade Carlisle addressed the issue as well.
   “The point is they simply forwent the 90 days. These are all set-up issues. This system wasn’t even put in until August,” stated Carlisle.
   Darris remarked that he had seen the boxed system sitting in City Manager Carlo Pilgrim’s office long after it was purchased.
   When asked once again by Darris if that was the statement Sullivan wanted to stick with, Sullivan admitted that the system was not up and running as it should have been within the 90 days.
   “With the time constraints and losing personnel I have not been able to get online within the timeframe,” stated Sullivan.
   The system in question originally cost approximately $25,000 and allows the time cards to be automatically uploaded to the system, which calculates the hours. As a stand-alone system, this requires the information be manually entered into the system initially. As of this date, the system is still not in use.
   Another item of interest to the council was the purchase of a washer and dryer. “I’m curious, why a purchase for washers and dryers?” asked Councilman Charles Haussman.
   “It is a single washer and dryer, and they will be set up in the old library for use by employees to wash their uniforms,” explained Pilgrim. “We no longer pay for the services of a vendor to wash our uniforms, and it has been expressed by the employees that the filth, oil, mud, etc., was not something that they wanted to bring home.”
   “So our future expanded office space is now a laundromat?” asked Haussman.
   Pilgrim clarified that at this time the building is a purchase housing facility, and that the washer and dryer are in
an area that is out of the way.
   “We are not purchasing detergent, bleach or anything like that. It’s simply a machine for the employees to utilize,” commented Pilgrim. After clarification of these items, the council approved the expenses for the month.