Explanation
The accounts receivable collection program within the City Attorney's Claims Division has been on-going since 1996. At that time the City Attorney interviewed firms experienced with governmental accounts receivable and chose Scoliere & Associates, and later, Capital Recovery Systems, Inc. to provide these services.
The contracts for these companies have paid for themselves every year since, as collections of previously past due accounts far exceeded the amount paid to the collection firms. This ordinance authorizes the City Attorney to modify the current contracts to: 1) extend the term of said contracts from December 31, 2003 to March 31, 2004 ,and: 2) to add One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) to the contract with Capital Recovery Systems.
Capital Recovery Systems has been extrememly successful this year in its recovery of past due accounts on behalf of the City, necessitating this increase in the amount of money appropriated to pay them for such services.
FISCAL IMPACT: Payments for services are made from past due accounts collected. Funds have been budgeted in Fund No. 295 for this expenditure.
Title
To authorize and direct the City Attorney to modify existing contracts with Scoliere & Associates and Capital Recovery Systems, Inc., to appropriate the funds and to authorize the City Attorney to expend up to One Hundered Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) for services rendered pursuant thereto, to waive the competitive procurement provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes, and to declare an emergency. ($100,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, previous ordinances have authorized the City Attorney to contract with Scoliere & Associates and Capital Recovery Systems, Inc. for the collection of certain of the City's accounts receivables; and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney would like to extend the term of the current contracts, set to expire on December 31, 2003, to March 31, 2004; and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney would like to expend an additional One Hundred Thousand Dollars with Capital Recovery Systems, Inc. for the remainder of 2003 and the first 3 months of 2004; and
WHEREAS, it is in the City's best interest to extend the contracts with Scoliere & Associates and Capital Recovery Systems, Inc. and to add additional funds to the contract with Capital Recovery Systems, Inc., and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the City Attorney's office in that it is immediately necesssary to authorize such modifications and appropriations thereby preserving the public health, 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 modify the contracts with Scoliere & Associates and Capital Recovery Systems, Inc. to extend the expiration of such contracts from December 31, 2003 to March 31, 2004.
Section 2. That there is hereby authorized to be expended from Division No. 24-01, Fund No. 295, OCA Code 241296, Object Level Three - 3336 the additional sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) with Capital Recovery Systems, Inc., and the Auditor is authorized to draw warrants upon the treasury for services thereunder upon receipt of invoices from the City Attorney.
Section 3. That monies necessary to carryout the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated.
Section 4. That the provisions of Columbus City Codes Chapter 329 relating to the procurement of professional services are hereby waived.
Section 5. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which are hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is deemed to be an emergency measure and shall take affect and be in force and effect after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten (10) days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.