Explanation
BACKGROUND: The accounts receivable collection program within the City Attorney's Claims Division has been ongoing since 1996. At that time the City Attorney interviewed firms experienced with governmental accounts receivable and chose Scoliere & Associates (now known as Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson, LLP) and later Capital Recovery Systems, Inc. to provide these services.
The contracts with these companies have paid for themselves every year since as collections of previously past due accounts far exceed the amount paid to the collections firms.
This ordinance authorizes the City Attorney to extend the current contracts with the collection firms Capital Recovery Systems, Inc and Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson LLP (formerly Scoliere & Associates).
Title
To authorize and direct the City Attorney to extend contracts with Capital Recovery Systems, Inc and Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson LLP (formerly Scoliere & Associates) to authorize the City Attorney to expend up to Four Hundred Thousand and no/100 Dollars ($400,000.00) for services rendered pursuant thereto, to waive the competitive procurement provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes and to declare an emergency ($400,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 3135-96 originally authorized the City Attorney to contract with Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson LLP (formerly Scoliere & Associates) and Ordinance No. 1833-98 originally authorized the City Attorney to contract with Capital Recovery Systems, Inc. for the collection of certain of the City's accounts receivable; and,
WHEREAS, the City Attorney has annually renewed the contracts with Capital Recovery Systems, Inc and Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson LLP (formerly Scoliere & Associates) for collection services; and
WHEREAS, it is in the City's interest to continue to contract with Capital Recovery Systems, Inc and Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson LLP (formerly Scoliere & Associates); and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City Attorney's office in that it is immediately necessary to authorize such agreement and payment to avoid interruption in services, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS
Section 1. That the City Attorney is authorized and directed to extend contracts with Capital Recovery Systems, Inc and Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson LLP (formerly Scoliere & Associates) to review and collect accounts receivable of the City which the City has determined are uncollectible or where the City believes the amounts involved exceed the costs that would be expended in collection.
Section 2. That the provisions of Columbus City Codes Chapter 329 relating to the procurement of professional services are hereby waived.
Section 3. That there is hereby authorized to be expended from department 2401, collection fund, fund number 295, object level 1 03, object level 3 3336, organizational cost code 241295, the sum of One Hundred Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars ($175,000.00) with Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson LLP (formerly Scoliere & Associates) and from department 2401, collection fund, fund number 295, object level 1 03, object level 3 3336, organizational cost code 241296, the sume of Two Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($225,000.00) with Capital Recovery Systems, Inc. and the City Auditor is authorized to draw warrants upon the treasury for services thereunder upon receipt of invoices approved by the City Attorney.
Section 4. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten (10) days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.