Pasco: Council member's switch draws scrutiny

Council member's switch draws scrutiny

A member appears to do an about-face on the fate of the Zephyrhills' computer consultant. But he says he's just voting his conscience.

By BRADY DENNIS

A member appears to do an about-face on the fate of the Zephyrhills' computer consultant. But he says he's just voting his conscience.

ZEPHYRHILLS -- There was the vote. And then only silence.

It's not that the unexpected 3-2 decision -- to end contract negotiations with the city's longtime computer consultant -- was that monumental.

But it was surprising. And it left some city officials asking questions.

Two weeks ago, when council member Jim Bailey was absent, the board voted 3-1 on the rankings of whom they wanted to continue the city's computer upgrade project.

At the top of the list was Infotect Design Solutions, headed by Steve Williams, who had been with the project since the start.

Only council President Cathi Compton objected.

So Monday's decision to actually award Infotect the contract seemingly should have been a formality. It wasn't.

Council members Elizabeth Geiger and Clyde Bracknell voted for the contract. Compton and Bailey, who opposed Infotect from the start, voted against it.

But to much surprise, council member Mike Bussell also voted against giving the contract to Infotect, two weeks after he voted for the company as the city's first choice.

There was no public discussion on the issue. But there was plenty Tuesday.

Several officials, including City Manager Steve Spina, questioned Bussell's motives.

"Either somebody talked to him about his vote, or he was making a statement about (not getting) a local preference ordinance," Spina said. "He was for it last week, and then he voted against it this week."

When asked why he thought there was no council discussion on the issue, Spina said: "They talked about it, just not last night."

Geiger also had concerns.

"I was flabbergasted by it," she said. "I thought, 'Did somebody get to him? Did he do it because he wasn't getting what he wanted with the (local) bid preference?'

"Why would he vote to rank somebody No. 1 and then vote against the contract? That's a dirty way to do business."

Bussell said he had no ulterior motives in voting against Infotect.

"I voted my conscience," he said. "If there's even an inkling that there might have been some behind-the-scenes discussion, bring on the proof. One thing I have been scrupulous about is not discussing business with others on the council."

He also said his decision had nothing to do with failing to pass a local preference ordinance for local businesses who bid on city projects.

"Absolutely not. I don't carry a grudge," Bussell said. "Business is business."

So why did he change his mind from only two weeks ago?

"I said okay to ranking them that way. You can rank them like you want to," he said. "But we've had quite a bit of problems with that consultant in the past. So when the vote came, I voted my beliefs."

Bussell was referring to an incident over the summer when Williams had not properly registered Infotect as a licensed state vendor. He since has done that.

Because the contract was rejected, the city now will enter into negotiations with the company ranked second on the list, C & D Communications Inc., of Brooksville.

In other news:The council again delayed deciding whether city employees should be allowed to carry guns onto city property.

Council members seemed to agree that employees should not be allowed to bring guns into city buildings. But they are likely to vote to allow them to have licensed weapons in their personal cars in the the parking lot, even if the lot belongs to the city.

Council members spent almost an hour Monday discussing whether to buy the abandoned U-Save building on Gall Boulevard and convert it to a new police station.

They ultimately decided against that, opting instead to build a new station, as originally planned, on a piece of land off Eighth Street.

Council members tabled a vote on whether to create an ordinance giving local businesses preference when bidding on city projects.

Except for Bussell, who has adamantly supported the idea, most council members spoke in favor of keeping the current system, in which the low bid prevails.

-- Brady Dennis covers the city of Zephyrhills and crime in east Pasco. To reach him, call (352) 521-5757, ext. 23, or send e-mail to dennis@sptimes.com.