Comments(16)

|

E-mail

|

Print

Mary-Jane Foster, an exploratory candidate for mayor, says Mayor Bill Finch is so desperate for revenues in an election year he’s placed a for sale sign in front of City Hall. Ah, yes, the city’s for sale.  From Foster:

The Finch administration has served up another ill-conceived, ill-timed and thoughtless proposal. Why suddenly throw City Hall and the City Hall Annex on the market with a request for proposals that are unrealistic and make no sense? A sale and lease back only makes sense if the result generates revenue from the sale and increases tax revenues for the city.

Where does this proposal fit in the earlier discussions of consolidating municipal office space and disposing of no longer necessary city-owned buildings? Consolidation would decrease expenses and the sale of unused buildings would drive some economic development opportunities. Here in Year 4 of the Finch administration, there is still no vision, no plan and no execution of these long ago identified opportunities.

What happened to the mayor’s promise to forego one-time revenues to plug the budget holes? That promise must be packed away with the promise to give everyone in Bridgeport a $600 tax refund.

The lack of coherence suggests desperation for revenue. With a budget deficit that moves with each day, unfunded pension liabilities and a Rainy Day Fund that is essentially at zero, perhaps this is a Hail Mary to try to bridge a gap that the administration doesn’t have the skill or stomach to deal with realistically. Some transparency or open communication about just how bad the situation is and what the options are would be helpful but are highly unlikely given this administration’s track record of secrecy.

Interestingly, but not surprisingly, the RPF revealed that tours for interested developers will be led by Art Harris, a City employee who took a medical leave to have knee replacements. In Harris’ absence, City Councilman Robert Curwen was hired as a ‘temporary’ City employee. Where is Robert Curwen now? Still working for the City? What happened to the hiring freeze? ‘Guess that’s only for individuals who aren’t the mayor’s buddies.

Comments(1)

|

E-mail

|

Print

Roughly 50 neighborhood activists and city officials gathered at the Wheeler Fountain near Park Avenue Tuesday night to protest a proposed 120-bed halfway house for the West End. The opposition hopes to attract a larger crowd Monday night when the Planning and Zoning Commission is scheduled take up the issue in City Council Chambers on Lyon Terrace. This meeting could get noisy. Several officials including Mayor Bill Finch and City Council President Tom McCarthy oppose the proposal. Mary-Jane Foster, who has formed an exploratory committee for mayor, was among the gathering at the fountain Tuesday. She says the Connecticut Legislature should pass a law to correct an imbalance that forces the region’s social problems on Bridgeport. From Foster:

Bridgeport businesswoman and social action advocate Mary-Jane Foster, who is exploring a run for office, issued the following statement today:

“Over the course of my career, I have been an active proponent of reentry programs, having both hired and worked with individuals committed to transitioning from incarceration to civilian life. I applaud organizations such as Community Solutions for delivering programs that help people successfully get their lives back on track. While there is undoubtedly a need for these programs and services, it is clear that Bridgeport has borne far more than its fair share of the responsibility for not just Fairfield County, but the entire state of Connecticut. I cannot support locating one more bed in Bridgeport, nor can this be a battle Bridgeport fights building-by-building, neighborhood-by-neighborhood. We need a statewide solution to this problem and I call upon the State legislature to review the issue and pass a law that fixes this gross imbalance. It is time for the rest of the state to step up and be a part of a true community solution.”

(Check out my daily webzine www.onlyinbridgeport.com)

Comments(4)

|

E-mail

|

Print

If you want to be landlord for Bridgeport City Hall and Annex here’s your chance. No statement from City Hall yet as to what this all means. From www.bidsync.com

RFQ/RFP – SENIOR MANAGING UNDERWRITE SERVICES

Description

PURPOSE. As financial advisor to the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut (the “City”), Public Financial Management, Inc. (“PFM”) is requesting proposals from financial institutions to serve as Senior Managing Underwriter in connection with the City’s upcoming financing, which will include the sale/leaseback or lease/leaseback of City Hall and City Hall Annex. The City expects to issue either Certificates of Participation (“COPs”), Lease Revenue Bonds (“Bonds”), or other financial structures that will yield approximately $30 million in April/May 2011.

The City anticipates entering into a lease agreement with a not-for-profit entity that will serve as lessor for the term of the lease. At the end of the term, City Hall and City Hall Annex will be conveyed back to the City. A portion of the proceeds from the sale, approximately $5,000,000 – $10,000,000, will be used to renovate City Hall and City Hall Annex and install capital improvements and green energy and other energy-savings improvements.

POTENTIAL FOR JOINT PROPOSALS OR STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH DESIGN-BUILDERS RESPONDING TO A SEPARATE RFQ. The City is currently also conducting a procurement for a design-build firm to design and construct certain capital improvements and energy improvements to City Hall and City Hall Annex (“Design-Build RFQ”). A potential proposer for this Underwriter RFQ may submit a joint proposal with a prospective design-build firm that identifies itself in connection with the Design-Build RFQ and, if doing so, shall identify any value-added to the City of such a joint approach in addition to the qualifications required by this RFQ. Prospective design-build firms that intend to respond to the Design-Build RFQ will be identified early in the process and prospective responders to this RFQ will receive the identities and contact information of such firms.

WITHIN TEN (10) DAYS AFTER THE PUBLICATION OF THIS RFQ, EVERY PROSPECTIVE PROPOSER TO THIS RFQ MUST PROVIDE ITS CONTACT INFORMATION TO DAWN NORTON, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, 45 LYON TERRACE, ROOM 104, BRIDGEPORT, CT 06604, VIA FAX (203) 576-7067 OR VIA EMAIL AT dawn.norton@bridgeportct.gov. THIS WILL ENABLE THE CITY TO IDENTIFY PROSPECTIVE PROPOSERS TO THE PROPOSERS THAT IDENTIFY THEMSELVES IN CONNECTION WITH THE DESIGN-BUILD RFQ. FAILURE OF A PROPOSER TO TEAM WITH A DESIGN-BUILDER, HOWEVER, WILL NOT RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION, BEING DEEMED NON-RESPONSIVE, OR BEING PRECLUDED FROM SUBMITTING ITS QUALIFICATIONS.

Project. This solicitation is being conducted specifically to identify the most appropriately qualified firm to provide senior managing underwriter services for the sale of Certificates of Participation, Lease Revenue Bonds or other revenue-raising vehicles for this project through issuance of this RFQ.

Minority Business Enterprises Are Encouraged to Respond. The City encourages Minority Business Enterprises (“MBEs”) to submit their qualifications. An MBE firm is entitled to Evaluation Credits (as described below) if it is a Target Group for these services under the provisions of the Minority Business Enterprise Ordinance, Section 3.12.130 of the City Ordinances (“MBE Ordinance”). Target Groups for this procurement are:

• Asian Americans

• Hispanic Americans

• Caucasian Females

• Minority Business Enterprises

• Minority Female Business Enterprises

• Caucasian Female Business Enterprises

Non-Minority Firms Are Encouraged to Joint Venture with Target Group Firms. Non-minority firms are encouraged to form joint venture arrangements (described below) with Target Group firms and the joint venture will be entitled to additional points based on the extent of the Target Group’s ownership interest in the joint venture as further described below

Companion piece to RFP/RFQ

RFQ/RFP – CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS CITY HALL AND ANNEX

Description

PROJECT DESCRIPTION. The City of Bridgeport (“City” or “COB”), through its Department of Public Facilities (“DPF”), is seeking architectural/engineering firms or teams to act as a design-builder for purposes of designing and constructing necessary capital repairs and improvements (“Capital Improvements”) to two (2) specific City properties, that is, City Hall, located at 45 Lyon Terrace (“City Hall”) and the City Hall Annex, located at 999 Broad Street (“Annex”) (See Exhibit C attached for a description of these properties). The City will select the energy improvements for City Hall and the Annex that will fit within the City’s desired level of investment (“Energy Improvements”). The City intends to seek energy audits for City Hall and the Annex from others. The design-builder selected as a result of this RFQ will be responsible for designing and constructing the Capital Improvements and Energy Improvements that the City selects.

DPF will conduct this procurement for professional services in conformance with (i) the Bridgeport Municipal Code of Ordinances Section 3.08.070 “Purchasing Procedure”, (ii) its “Official Policy Concerning Quality-Based Selection Processes”, and (iii) State statutes. The Selection Committee (described below) will utilize the Evaluator’s Guide For QBS Selection Processes in the process for selecting the successful vendor.

A. POTENTIAL FOR JOINT PROPOSALS OR STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH UNDERWRITER OF SALE/LEASEBACK FINANCING. The City is currently also conducting a procurement for an underwriting firm to act as Senior Managing Underwriter in connection with the City’s upcoming financing transaction that is designed in part to raise funds to complete certain Capital Improvements and Energy Improvements at City Hall and the Annex, which financing transaction will include the sale/leaseback of City Hall and the Annex facilities or another financing structure to be determined (“Underwriting RFQ”). A potential proposer for this Design-Build RFQ may submit a joint proposal with a prospective underwriting firm that identifies itself in connection with the Underwriting RFQ and, if doing so, shall identify any value-added to the City of such a joint approach in addition to the qualifications required by this RFQ. Prospective underwriting firms that intend to respond to the Underwriting RFQ will be identified early in the process and prospective responders to this Design-Build RFQ will receive the identities and contact information of such underwriters.

WITHIN TEN (10) DAYS AFTER THE PUBLICATION OF THIS RFQ, EVERY PROSPECTIVE PROPOSER TO THIS RFQ MUST PROVIDE ITS CONTACT INFORMATION TO TED GRABARZ, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM COORDINATOR, 999 BROAD STREET, SECOND FLOOR, BRIDGEPORT, CT 06604 VIA FAX (203) 332-5652 OR VIA EMAIL AT TED.GRABARZ@BRIDGEPORTCT.GOV. THIS WILL ENABLE THE CITY TO IDENTIFY PROSPECTIVE PROPOSERS TO TEAM WITH AN

UNDERWRITER. FAILURE OF A PROPOSER TO TEAM WITH AN UNDERWRITER, HOWEVER, WILL NOT RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION, BEING DEEMED NON-RESPONSIVE, OR BEING PRECLUDED FROM SUBMITTING ITS QUALIFICATIONS.

Minority Business Enterprises Are Encouraged to Respond. The City encourages Minority Business Enterprises (“MBEs”) to submit their qualifications. An MBE firm or a team of which it is a part is entitled to Evaluation Credits (See Exhibit B attached) if it is a Target Group for these services under the provisions of the Minority Business Enterprise Ordinance, Section 3.12.130 of the City Ordinances (“MBE Ordinance”). Target Groups (“Target Groups”) for this procurement are:

Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Caucasian Females

Non-Minority Firms Are Encouraged to Joint Venture with Target Group Firms.

Mandatory Walk-Throughs of City Hall and the Annex; Questions and Answers. The City will conduct mandatory walk-throughs of City Hall and the Annex at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, February 23 or Thursday, February 24, 2011 (prospective proposers need only attend one (1) walkthrough), beginning in the offices of the Department of Public Facilities, City Hall Annex, 999 Broad Street, 2nd Floor, Bridgeport, CT. The walkthrough will include both City Hall Annex and City Hall. The City representative leading the walk-through will be Art Harris, Director of Construction Management Services, telephone 203-576-3960. The City will entertain questions about the buildings, their current condition, the City’s desired Capital Improvements and Energy Improvements, and the like until Friday, March 4, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. The City will provide answers to such questions to registered vendors no later than Monday, March 7, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. on Bidsync. BECAUSE OF THE UNIQUE NATURE OF THIS RFQ AND THE UNIQUE CONDITION AND FEATURES OF THE BUILDINGS INVOLVED, ANY VENDOR THAT DOES NOT REGISTER FOR OR FAILS TO ATTEND ONE MANDATORY WALK-THROUGH WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM SUBMITTING ITS QUALIFICATIONS.

Comments(2)

|

E-mail

|

Print

Yikes! This week’s issue of Forbes warns that Bridgeport could be on the financial brink. Written by Daniel Fisher, Forbes asks “Are you sure you want to live here?” In Forbes’ story Bridgeport leads a pack of cities the magazine claims is on the ropes. From the article:

Most of these cities aren’t in imminent danger of bankruptcy or default, but fiscal irresponsibility, a deteriorating tax base, soaring pension costs or a combination of all three means residents may want to consider moving before they get stuck with the bill.

Bridgeport

Fast Facts:
- City first placed under state oversight in 1988; still places property taxes in trust account for bondholders
- Retirement benefits other than pensions exceed city’s total debt of $685 million

This former industrial powerhouse on the Connecticut coast has been in financial crisis off and on since the 1980s as its factories closed, leaving behind a needy, impoverished population. Moody’s Investors Service notes that poor investment returns have hurt the city’s pension funds, while benefits like health care represent a rising claim on tax revenue.

City Hall Says:
Bridgeport left state oversight in 1995; bond trust is entirely voluntary

Mary-Jane Foster, an exploratory candidate for mayor, says Bridgeport can thank Mayor Bill Finch for Forbes’ financial storm warning. From Foster:

“The article in Forbes magazine this week is just one more embarrassment for Bridgeport. Bill Finch has had three plus years to face up to the real costs of running this city. Because of this total lack of leadership, we are once again looking at a looming financial nightmare. Budget deficits, budget secrecy, no economic development plan, jobs and pay increases for political friends all contribute to poor city services and more red ink. In 2007 Finch promised a $600 tax cut. What did he deliver? A tax increase. Soon the Mayor will have to submit a budget to the City Council — an election-year budget that is sure to be served up with a lot of blue smoke and mirrors. The city’s financial solvency and our collective future require leadership and the ability to make tough but fair choices. Anything else will simply validate this article in Forbes and once again, we will be embarrassed by the poor administration of our city.”

Entire article

http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2011/0214/real-estate-bankruptcy-taxes-pensions-cities-on-brink.html

(Check out my daily webzine at www.onlyinbridgeport.com)

Comments

|

E-mail

|

Print

Does anyone know there’s a special election Feb. 22? That’s right, to fill the state assembly seat vacated by Chris Caruso who received a state appointment from Governor Dannel Malloy.

Connecticut’s 126th State Assembly District includes portions of the North End and Upper East Side. Voting precincts are Wilbur Cross, Hallen, Read, Park City Magnet and Hooker. Will the turnout hit 10 percent? And how many absentee ballots will flood in at the last minute? The rest of this week will feature spring-like temperatures great for campaigning. But what if a storm hits on the day of the election? Campaign camps will have the SUVs fired up.

Charlie Stallworth has been endorsed by the Dems, James Keyser by the GOP. Mark Trojanowski, Carlos Silva, Bob Keeley, Tom Lombard and Verna Kearney are running as petitioning candidates. Democratic Town Chair Mario Testa and Mayor Bill Finch support Stallworth, a member of the city’s Police Commission. Caruso and State Senator Ed Gomes support Kearney, a 19-year veteran of the police department. Keeley represented the district when he was first elected to the State House in 1982.

Worried about a ballot shortage? Not in this race. Election officials have printed one ballot for every registered voter, roughly 13,000.

A candidate forum will take place Wednesday Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Bridgeport Elks Lodge, 735 Old Town Road. It will be moderated by Rob Sullivan, executive editor of the Bridgeport Banner.

(Check out my daily webzine at www.onlyinbridgeport.com)

Comments(6)

|

E-mail

|

Print

Mark your calendars. On Feb. 22 a special election will fill the state assembly seat vacated by Chris Caruso who’s taken a job with the Malloy administration. A candidate forum will take place tonight (Tuesday) at the Lake Forest Clubhouse on Frenchtown Road. Connecticut’s 126th Assembly District includes parts of the North End and Upper East Side. Here’s your chance to hear from the candidates and ask them what kind of ride operation they’ll have if we get another snowstorm. Break out the dog sleds.

From the Lake Forest Association:

126th State Assembly District Special-Election, Candidates’ Forum, 7 PM, Tuesday, 02/08/11

Lake Forest Association will conduct a candidates’ forum on Tuesday, February 8, 7:00 PM at the Lake Forest Clubhouse, 424 Frenchtown Road, to which all of the official candidates contending to replace long-time Bridgeport State Representative Chris Caruso have been invited to participate …

The candidates contending to replace former State Representative Caruso are:

Former State Representative Bob Keeley (one-time representative of the 126th District); Rev. Charles Stallworth, Bridgeport Police Commission member, pastor of the East End Tabernacle Baptist Church, and member of the Bridgeport Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance; previous contender for the 126th District Seat, Bridgeport Police Officer Verna Kearney; Thomas Lombard; Mark Trojanowski; Joe Giaquinto; James Keyser; and 136th District Councilman Carlos Silva.

*Please plan to car-pool, due to the snow-related reduction in parking-space and other snow-related parking restrictions.