City Hearing Examiner Contract - Another example of Government Waste


Go figure, what information was provided to the Edmonds City Council prior to accepting and entering into a contract that costs the Edmonds Taxpayers four times the amount the very same firm charges the the City of Everett ($120.00 per hour, not to exceed $10,000 in a calendar year)?

On February 20, 2007 via the consent agenda the Edmonds City Council approved a contract for Hearing Examiner services with the law firm Toweill Rice Taylor.
This contract calls for a $3,500 per month compensation or $42,000 annual expense. Folks that's $126,000 expense over the 3 year contract compared to $30,000 expense for Everett over the same contract term. No wonder the City financial situation appears dire. In 2009 the Hearing Examiner conducted 11 hearings or $3,818 per hearing. Another way to evaluate the contract $42,000 divided by $120 per hour, 350 hours divided by 11 hearings - 31 hours per hearing and decision. It makes no sense.

The City of Edmonds sends Toweill Rice Taylor a check for $3,500 every month even if there hasn't been any hearings. That's right, the Edmonds taxpayers pay for no service performed. Last year the Mayor proposed closing Yost Pool, cutting funds to the Senior Center and cutting the flower program. The City of Edmonds continues to subsidize Fire District One to the tune of almost 2 Million Dollars per year. The blame rests squarely on the shoulders of Mayor Haakenson as demonstrated by this bad deal with Toweill Rice and Taylor.

The Council looks for budget cuts while there needs to be a comprehensive evaluation of all business decisions and contracts for services currently in force at the City of Edmonds.

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