Explanation
Background: The accounts receivable collection program within the City Attorney's Claims Section has been ongoing since 1996. At that time, the City Attorney interviewed firms with experience in government accounts receivable and chose Scoliere and Associates (now known as Linebarger, Goggin, Blair & Sampson LLP, and later, Capital Recovery Systems, Inc. to provide these services. These firms have done excellent work for the City over the ensuing years.
This ordinance authorizes the City Attorney to renew the current contracts with the above referenced collection firms for one year.
The renewal is especially significant this year in light of related legislation passed by this Council on February 23, 2009 (0130-2009) which authorized the imposition of a fee for collection services on delinquent debtors. As our current providers of collection services, Linebarger and Capital are in possession of the City's files and have ongoing payment plan relationships with several City debtors who will be "grandfathered" in before the April 1,2009 effective date for the imposition of the new fee. Maintaining our current relationships with our collection firms will provide a smooth transition as we move forward with this new program.
Fiscal Impact: This contract is self-funding. Fees are currently paid out of monies collected by the firms. As the imposition of the collection fee comes on line, the City will recoup more of its debts and the debtor will pay for the service of the collection agencies. 100% of monies collected are remitted to the City, invoices from the collection agencies are paid monthly from funds collected.
Title
To authorize 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 Fifty 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 ($450,000.00) and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 3135-96 originally authorized the City Attorney to contract with Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson, LLP (formerly Scoliere and 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 receivables; and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney has been pleased with the performance of these firms and has annually renewed these contracts for collection services; and
WHEREAS; it is in the City's best interest to continue to contract with Linebarger, Goggan, BLair & Sampson LLP and Capital Recovery System, Inc., especially in light of Ordinance No. 0130-2009, authorizing the imposition of collection fees on current accounts in the possession of these collection firms as of April 1, 2009; and
WHEREAS, by reason of the foregoing, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City in that it is immediately necessary to enter into said contracts for the preservation of public health, peace, property, safety and welfare, now, therfore:
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 that the assistance of professional collection agencies 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 Two Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($200,000.00) 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 241295 for the contract with Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson LLP and the City Auditor is authorized to draw warrants upon the treasury for service thereunder upon recipt of invoices approved by the City Attorney.
Section 4. That the expenditure of the sum of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand and 00/100 ($250,000.00) 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 reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.