Uniform supplier sues city

Largo canceled the company's contract because of a conflict of interest: Its president is married to a city firefighter.

LARGO - A company whose contract to provide city uniforms was revoked because of a conflict of interest is now suing the city. Bay Area Gear Repair Inc. alleges the city breached its contract to buy uniforms and has not paid about $4,500 for uniforms that were delivered.

The city says it tried to return the items, but the company refuses to pick them up.

The company originally won a contract to provide uniforms for firefighters and city workers, but a city attorney decided the contract was a conflict of interest. Company president Tracy Gansert is married to Pat Gansert, a longtime firefighter.

The contract, which was approved by commissioners in November, was revoked after a St. Petersburg Times reporter inquired about the deal in January.

The lawsuit, filed Sept. 25, alleges the city breached the contract by refusing to pay for the uniforms that were delivered and by ordering uniforms from another supplier.

Joan Wheaton, the city's buyer, said the payment has not been made because the items were delivered late. Also, several of the uniforms failed to meet specifications.

For example, shirts that should have been embroidered with the city of Largo logo were not embroidered at all, while several pairs of pants were not hemmed, Wheaton said.

The company was asked to pick up the uniforms, but did not respond, she said.

Wheaton said the city had paid for other uniforms delivered by the company, but was unsure of how much was paid.

Bay Area Gear Repair, of Port Richey, is seeking $5,568.48 in damages, as well as attorney fees and costs. That includes profits lost to another company after the contract was revoked.

The city purchased more than $5,000 of clothing from Custom Concepts of St. Petersburg Inc. before March 7, according to the suit. That company had submitted the second-lowest bid.

The original contract, split among four vendors, was estimated to be worth $376,000 for the two-year period.

The Fire Department spends about $35,000 for uniforms each year, while the Police Department spends about $80,000. The Public Works, Community Development and Recreation, Parks and Arts departments expected to spend approximately $73,000 each year.

"We're going to try to work something out in lieu of litigation," said Tammi Bach, assistant city attorney.

Sean Costis, the company's attorney, said he could not comment on pending litigation. Tracy Gansert could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

A hearing on the suit will be held on Nov. 13.

- Shannon Tan can be reached at shtan@sptimes.com or 445-4174.

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