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Commissioners table B&L IT Services election contract after dispute over vendor-held storage of election equipment
Summary
After questions about a storage lease for election equipment being placed in a vendor’s name rather than in the county’s name, the Board of Commissioners on April 17 voted to table renewal of a B&L IT Services election-support agreement until May 1.
Monroe County commissioners voted 3-0 on April 17 to table consideration of a renewal with B&L IT Services, LLC for election support and related services after questions surfaced about a storage-unit lease for election equipment being placed in a private contractor’s name.
Clerk’s office staff explained the storage unit contains election supplies and equipment — not voting machines themselves — and that the vendor had historically managed inventory and given county staff access. When the lease came up for renewal the clerk’s office elected to include the storage arrangement in the B&L agreement rather than pursue a standalone county lease; legal staff said converting the lease to county name would require public-hearing steps and contract amendments.
Commissioner Madera said she was uncomfortable having county property held under a private party’s name and asked whether payments to the storage provider could be handled on a month-to-month basis until the issue was resolved. County staff said the vendor had waived late fees but that claims were awaiting contract approval; clerk’s staff said they would work with legal and the surveyor’s office to obtain inventory, township and building information and explore alternatives including a county lease or month-to-month arrangement.
Staff said the storage agreement would be in the vendor’s name for two years under the proposed contract and that all equipment in storage would remain county property; legal advised the option had been suggested for expediency. Commissioners directed staff to pursue options that keep county property under county control and to return the item at the May 1 meeting; staff also agreed to provide an inventory to commissioners and to identify funding options to pay any short-term costs if needed.
Clerk and administration staff cautioned the board that delaying approval would defer payments to a small-business vendor who had been patient, and the clerk’s office said it would work with county finance to identify a funding mechanism for interim payments if necessary.
The board’s formal tabling motion carried unanimously.
