Councillors Criticize Staff – Saving Money
Posted by John Malloy on 06/01/2010
By Chris Fell -
Councillors Criticize Staff for Saving Money
Meaford Operations Director Stephen Vokes faced heavy criticism from two members of council after he found a better deal to purchase a new snowplow for the municipality. At council’s regular meeting on May 25, Vokes brought forward a report about a new snowplow the municipality is purchasing in 2010. The 2010 budget, which has been approved by council, includes $250,000 (from federal gas tax revenues) for a new snowplow. After receiving budget approval, Vokes set out to find the municipality a new snowplow. In his research he found a demo unit identical to the snowplow Meaford purchased last year.
The demo machine is $10,000 cheaper than a brand new model and most importantly – it is available immediately. The demo unit will be in the possession of the municipality in a couple months. A new snowplow would take several months to be ordered and constructed. The municipality did not expect the new plow to be delivered until March 2011.
In addition, the immediate availability of the demo unit means the Operations Department will not have to spend $35,000 to repair the 17-year-old plow the new vehicle is replacing. The older unit needs heavy repairs to be useable on the municipality’s roads this winter. In his report, Vokes asked for permission to waive the municipality’s purchasing bylaw in order to immediately purchase the available demo unit snow plow…
www.simcoe.com
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