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Board approves ABM payments for event coverage after SJ Services shortfalls; members call for stronger contractor oversight
Summary
The board approved payments to ABM for event coverage at district facilities after testimony that SJ Services did not perform contracted duties. Board members raised concerns about invoicing, contract language and monitoring and urged hiring a chief operating officer and facilities manager to improve oversight.
The New Haven Board of Education voted to approve purchase orders to pay ABM for event coverage and floor-support services after testimony that SJ Services did not provide contracted staffing for some events.
The motion to approve purchase orders 7.02 and 7.03 — described in meeting materials as ABM coverage for permitted event support services at FLAC and other high school locations — passed after debate. Finance & Operations Chair Mister Wilcox moved the items; the board recorded a majority "yes" vote with Miss Downer voting "no." Board members said ABM stepped in when SJ Services did not perform and that paying ABM was necessary because the work was done.
Board member Miss Downer pressed for stronger contractor accountability, saying the district's RFP required monthly detailed invoices be provided to the COO and that such invoices were not received regularly. She said the lack of timely billing and the appearance of a vendor failing to meet contractual obligations showed a need for clearer enforcement and consequences. "For something like this, where we have a blatant contractor refusing to do our work and breach our contract, and no one told us," she said, calling for mediation and contract enforcement.
Other board members and staff agreed oversight must improve. Dr. Joyner said the district has been "handicapped" by an internal lack of staff to monitor large contracts and welcomed the superintendent's plan to hire a facilities director and chief operating officer. Mister Wilcox said the district will revisit part-time custodial procurement and noted that the recent part-time custodial RFP closed last week.
The board discussed evidence that ABM performed the work that SJ Services failed to do and that the district did not pay another vendor for the same work. Several board members said the district saved money by using ABM in those instances; Miss Downer and others asked for better documentation and monitoring going forward.
The board also approved a motion later in the meeting to authorize payment of one abstract, one agreement, one amendment and two contracts listed on the agenda; that motion carried unanimously.
