Overspending on playground equipment
Mayor Clifford Lee says Charlottetown wasn’t taking the low bid from some suppliers when it should have been
The City of Charlottetown has agreed to spend more than $90,000 on new playground equipment, but the mayor says taxpayers’ money was not wisely spent here.
After looking at the detailed resolution at council’s monthly public meeting Monday night, Mayor Clifford Lee said by his math the city spent almost $20,000 more than it should have.
When it comes to purchasing playground equipment, the city looks at many factors, with the lowest bid being a big one. But equipment is also rated on factors such as quality, durability, safety, playability, maintenance and longevity. In the end, a total score is given.
Lee said based on that point system, the low bid should have been taken in some cases and wasn’t.
“Basically, what we’ve done tonight is we’ve spent $20,000 roughly additional taxpayers’ money by not accepting low bids,’’ Lee said.
“I understand and appreciate that some of this equipment is done by the suitability for the playground, but the reality is in one place we’re paying twice as much for the playground in the park and the difference in the evaluation is one point.’’
Lee said he realizes $20,000 is not a huge sum of money, but there is no sense in wasting it
when the difference between suppliers is so small the city should be going with the low bid.
To use an example, Lee pointed to the $7,590 spent for equipment at Southview, Shell Court, J. “Bomber” Callaghan and Desbrisay parks.
The low bid in this case was $3,400, yet when evaluated by the city’s criteria the difference between the suppliers was only one point.
Staff said Monday night they will have another look at the evaluation process.
However, because the city’s budget has already been passed and because once city council casts its vote, there is no going back this year.
“I want to see in the future when you’ve got a one-point difference in the evaluation that we don’t spend twice as much money because of one point, and that’s exactly what we did tonight . . . and that makes absolutely no sense to me. I think a bit of common sense need to be applied to the exercise here.’’
Coun. Mitchell Tweel, chairman of the parks and recreation department, and the one who moved the resolution, said the city doesn’t always accept the lowest bid.
“The cost of the equipment is just one factor,’’ Tweel said. “Staff has a very thorough, very analytical process that they follow. You can’t just change the criteria because you think we might save a few dollars. It has to be open and it has to be transparent but, yes, there is a cost. But you can’t change the rules of the game after you find out you might not like the results.’’
Tweel said he has no problem with taking another look at the criteria and the point system next year to see if improvements can be made.
“It’s one thing to stand here and say there is a five-point differential or a one-point differential, that’s all well and good, but you’ve got to take into consideration the entire scope of the criteria.’’