Yikes! Mayor Dave Bronson’s administration admits it went ahead with spending funds without first getting Assembly approval on a $4.9 million upgrade to the construction firm’s contract for the navigation center in East Anchorage. Lance Wilbur, Director of Public Works, conceded the error, which was first reported at a recent Assembly work session. Santon Shearer, who is director of Maintenance and Operations, gave authorization to Roger Hickel Contracting to proceed with the work. The city has apparently spent about $8 million and in the process violated Title 7 by authorizing an amendment to the contract with Hickel without Assembly approval.
In addition, the resolution passed by the Assembly in May to set aside funds for the Nav Center had an important contingency. Funding was contingent on having Mayor Bronson commit to a good-faith effort to turn the Golden Lion Hotel into a substance abuse center, a condition that has not been met.
It’s hard to believe such an enormous mistake could have been made, and this shows the degree of ineptness of this administration. So is the mayor apologizing for this very costly error or finding a way to rectify the situation? No. The administration didn’t even bother to answer a series of questions from ADN claiming they “are working to get answers as fast as they can.” Possibly the administration is working as “fast as they can,” but this just is further evidence of their ineptness and lack of transparency. We need answers now.
Despite this colossal blunder, the administration is arguing the Assembly should approve the construction contract and continue with work immediately, going so far as to threaten the Assembly that there might be another million dollars in extra charges if we don’t pour the foundation this year.
Please contact the Assembly and the mayor and request that they kill this boondoggle project now. Apparently the person who made this huge error, Saxton Shearer, is also the navigation center and shelter project manager. He needs to be held accountable and should not be allowed to continue in his job or being project manager for any future projects. Possibly Lance Wilbur, Director of Public Works, should be fired too or at least demoted. They are high-paid municipal employees and should know the law and procedures about construction projects. The city will probably wind up paying the contractor millions for work he did in good faith. It’s too bad Mr. Shearer and Mr. Wilbur can not be held personally liable for costing the city millions.
— Joanne Kell
Anchorage
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