Barrie is looking to hire another consulting firm, as well as issue sole-source contracts, to help it spend $33 million in federal and provincial infrastructure cash.
In a report councillors approved without discussion this week, the city’s manager of design and construction Bob Kahle asked for approval to hire a “professional management firm to develop master project schedules for the approved infrastructure stimulus projects” and to monitor their progress.
The projects include a new $14-million fire station, a Lake Simcoe Regional Airport expansion, and major drainage and road works in the Queen’s Park area.
There is no estimate of what the professional management firm would cost, nor any expenses related to sole-source contracts, as the RFP closes July 3.
The projects, however, must be completed in a relatively contained timeframe to meet federal guidelines, Kahle explained.
“The need for expediency, however, does not reduce the city’s responsibility to demonstrate effective stewardship over the funds under its control,” he added.
A professional project management firm would develop master project schedules, costs, detailed schedules and provide regular schedule monitoring and updating.
The move to hire another firm comes after the city spent US$150,000 on another sole-source initiative to learn to think creatively; select senior city staff took multi-day training led by the Connecticut-based Klapper Institute, a management education firm with the tag-line of “teaching the discipline of getting results”.
Barrie also recently issued an RFP for another consultant to help the city update its corporate values; corporate services commissioner Ed Archer said Barrie’s – which include honesty, integrity, accountability and innovation – need re-examination because they predate most of the senior management team.
The city also hired a communications consultant to help guide a new planning strategy for the city’s older neighbourhoods, a $40,000 move that was included in the city’s 2009 budget.
Barrie also hires non-staffers to conduct its arts-grants workshops; there have been at least five editions of the sessions designed to teach arts organizations how to better access provincial, federal and private foundation grants.
