Explanation
The accounts receivables collection program within the City Attorney's Claims Division has been ongoing since 1996. At that time, the City Attorney interviewed firms that had experience with municipal government accounts receivable and chose Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson LLP (formerly Scoliere & Associates), and later, Capital Recovery Systems, Inc. to provide these services.
This ordinance authorizes the City Attorney to renew the current contracts with the above-mentioned collection firms for one year.
Contract Compliance Numbers:
Capital Recovery Systems Inc. 311570459-001
Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson, LLP 742864602-001
Fiscal Impact - These contracts are self-funding and will result in additional revenues to the General Fund.
Title
To authorize and direct the City Attorney to renew contracts with Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson, LLP and Capital Recovery Systems, Inc., to authorize the City Attorney to expend up to Four Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars from the collection fees fund for services rendered pursuant thereto, and to waive the competitive procurement provisions 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 theCity Attorney to contract with Capital Recovery Systems, Inc. for the collection of certain of the City's receivables; and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney has annually renewed these contracts for collection services; and
WHEREAS, it is in the City's interest to contiue to contract with Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson, LLP and Capital Recovery Systems, Inc. ; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in that the current contracts will expire at the end of March 2007 and it is desireable to have new contracts in place so that service may continue uninterrupted; now therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS
Section 1. That the City Attorney is authorized and directed to renew contracts with Linebarger, Goggan, Blair and Sampson, LLP and Capital Recovery Systems, Inc. for a period of one year to review and collect accounts receivable of the City for which the City's efforts at collection have been unsuccessful, or where the City believes assistance from a professional collection agency would increase the likelihood of a more expeditious collection.
Section 2. That the provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, relating to the procurement of professional services are hereby waived.
Section 3. That the expenditure of the sum of One Hundred Thousand and 00/100 ($100,000.00) or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized to be expended from department 2401, collection fund, fund number 295, object level 3336, organizational cost code 241295 for the contract with Linebarger, Goggan, Blair and Sampson LLP 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 the expenditure of the sum of Three Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($300,000.00) or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized to be expended from department 2401, collection fund, fund number 295 object level three 3336, organizational cost code 241296 for the contract 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 5. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordianance is hereby declared an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Major, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.