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File #: 0645-2014    Version: 1
Type: Ordinance Status: Passed
File created: 3/6/2014 In control: Public Safety & Judiciary Committee
On agenda: 3/24/2014 Final action: 3/26/2014
Title: To authorize the appropriation of Seven Hundred Sixty Thousand Dollars from the Collection Fees fund; to authorize the City Attorney to extend contracts with Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson LLP and Capital Recovery Systems, Inc. for the collection of delinquent accounts; to authorize the payment of court costs, the reimbursement of collected overpayments and accounting reversals as needed; to authorize the expenditure of Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars from said fund; to waive the competitive procurement provisions of the Columbus City Codes; and to declare an emergency. ($760,000.00)
Attachments: 1. 0645-14 Bid waiver.pdf
Explanation

Background: This legislation will authorize the City Attorney to renew contracts with collection agents Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson LLP and Capital Recovery Systems, Inc. for one year and will authorize the payment of court costs, the reimbursement of any overpayments collected and accounting reversals for bad checks from the Collection Fees fund. This fund is generated by fees collected by collection agents and used to pay the associated collection costs due.

The accounts receivables 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 receivables and choose Scoliere and Associates (now known as Linebarger, Goggan, 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.

In 2009 a new program was implemented via ordinance 0130-2009 which adjusted the fee structure of the program. Effective April 1, 2009, a new 30% fee is added to the total debt collected of all new and existing accounts without payment plans instead of the fee being paid from the total amount collected. This allows the City to recover 100% of the debts collected and the debtor pays the additional 30% collection fee. Continuing our relationship with our current collection agents will be valuable in keeping the program running smoothly and efficiently.

Emergency: Emergency declaration is requested so the collection process can continue without interruption.

Contract Compliance Numbers:
Capital Recovery Systems Inc. 31-1570459 expires 12/02/15
Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson, LLP 74-2864602 expires 02/07/16

These companies are neither debarred according to the Excluded Party Listing System of the Federal Government nor prohibited from being awarded a contract according to the Auditor of State Unresolved Findings for Recovery C...

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