Universityof Illinois Trustees voted last week to rescind and rebid a controversial $4.6million architecture contract awarded to BLDD Architects for renovation of theUrbana campus Natural History Building, now partly closed and crumbling 120years after it was first built. The tainted contract was originallyawarded to BLDD, where architect Bruce Maxey owns 8.9% of the company, and ismarried to U of I’s associate director of planning Jill Maxey, who is in chargeof campus construction. Jill Maxey has been reassigned to a different job oncampus.
Accordingto board Chairman Christopher Kennedy, “It was a short discussion. We don’twant any more ethical issues associated with the university. We get publicmoney and we have to hold ourselves to a higher standard.” Before the Trustees’vote, university administrators had twice refused to go along with aProcurement Policy Board recommendation that the tainted contract be cancelledbecause of ethical violations. Randy West of BLDD said of the Trustees’ action:“While we are saddened by today’s decision, we are gratified that all involvedagree that BLDD made all required disclosures, showing its strong commitment totransparency throughout the process.” Of course, in Illinois, the disclosurethat “We have clout and the inside track to this contract,” is apparently allthat is required to be “ethical” when it comes to taking millions of taxpayer dollars.
Accordingto Mike Bass, the university’s senior associate vice president for building andfinancial services, rebidding the contract may delay the project and add to thecost of renovations. Any such added costs should be recovered from the Maxeyfamily and any other university officials involved in letting this sordidepisode run on for years before correcting the obvious ethical lapses.
Hiç yorum yok:
Yorum Gönder