Langford council has quietly renewed a parks, boulevards and trails maintenance contract for $2.3 million annually for five years without public tender or bid.

 

Grumpy Taxpayer$ made repeated requests to the administration for any goods and services purchase policy used by the city and received no response. Nor would they confirm the maintenance contract went out for tender or bid.

 

Victoria Contracting and Municipal Maintenance Corp. (VCMMC) has been responsible for the maintenance of all City-owned parks, boulevards, and trails in Langford since 1992. The company also provides services for View Royal, Highlands and the District of Sooke.

 

“Since the contract apparently never went to public tender, taxpayers are wondering if the city got the best deal possible?” ask John Treleaven, chair of Grumpy Taxpayer$ of Greater Victoria.

 

“Langford council has a reputation for lack of transparency with the taxpayer – this is the latest example. To be very clear though, our issue is failed council governance and not VCMMC itself.”

 

The 24-page VCMMC contract allows for annual cost of living increases and an option for renewal for another five years.

 

“Are other goods and services purchased without public tendering or bidding? Is it unreasonable to expect a local government with revenue of $100 million in 2020 not to have a policy guiding purchases? Why were questions asking ‘Is a purchasing policy under consideration?’ unanswered?” says Treleaven.

 

The City of Victoria has had a purchasing policy in place since 2016 with the goal of ‘obtaining the best value for all funds expended.’ They are committed to open, transparent, fair and accountable access to City business utilizing leading practices and adhering to legislation and applicable trade agreements, according to the city.

 

Victoria also maintains a competitive bidding process in accordance with municipal and provincial laws. It adds, “We are conscious of our responsibility in the expenditure of public funds, including the acquisition of goods and services amounting to millions of dollars annually.”

 

Under the document library section, there’s nothing listed for public scrutiny on Langford’s website concerning bids, contracts, competitive bidding, procurement, purchasing policy or policies. Neither is there any reference to B.C. Bid, a provincial government website that allows municipalities to advertise bidding opportunities for a wide range of goods and services. That’s a service that Langford has used in the past.

 

 

 

Bid system,City of Victoria, 2021.

 

Purchasing policy for City of Victoria, City of Victoria, 2020.

 

Improving local government procurement processes through: Procurement Policy Enhancements, Procurement Performance Metrics and Reporting, and Vendor Performance Management, Auditor General of Local Government, B.C., 2016.

 

 

 

Available for Media Interviews:

 

John Treleaven, Chair, Grumpy Taxpayer$ 

treleavengroup@shaw.ca 

250.656.7899, cell 250.588.7899

 

Stan Bartlett, Past Chair, Grumpy Taxpayer$

grumpytaxpayers@gmail.com

250-477-9907

 

 

The statements of disclosure of council are required under the provincial Financial Disclosure Act and must be filed by elected local government officials by between Jan. 1 and 15 every year.

 

 

“We are pleased that Langford is continuing on its path to improve transparency for the benefit of residents and taxpayers,” says Stan Bartlett, past-chair, Grumpy Taxpayer$ of Greater Victoria.

 

“Council and staff do an exceptional job in dealing with and fostering new business,” says Bartlett. “So, there’s no reason that service mentality can’t be carried over to improving transparency for residents.”

 

Unfortunately, Langford refused our initial request to provide electronic copies of the public documents or to post the disclosures online like municipalities such as Victoria and Saanich.

 

Instead, after Grumpy Taxpayer$ viewied the documents a further request was made at city hall for paper copies of the documents as required under law, namely Section 95 (3) of the Community Charter which governs municipalities. Paper copies were then provided for the public.

 

The intent of the Financial Disclosure Act is to identify what areas of influence and possible financial benefit an elected official, nominee or designated employee might have by virtue of their office, and to ensure the public has reasonable access to the information.

 

Of note, Langford has recently agreed to move from the current audio recordings of council meetings to a more robust live-streaming format. It has earmarked funds in the 2021 budget.

 

Grumpy Taxpayer$ is urging the municipality take additional measures to further improve transparency aside from posting annual council financial disclosures on its website.

 

The outdated council procedures bylaw – which sets out how council should operate – is detailed in Bylaw No. 819 and not available for public review on the Langford website. The bylaw has not been updated since 2004 and no firm date has been set for any revisions, according to city staff.

 

In our view, policies aroundcouncil remuneration and expenses should also be posted on the city website for the viewing of the taxpaying public. Saanich, Victoria and the CRD, all exercise full transparency by dedicating a website page to this important information.

 

 

READ MORE:

 

Residents are now raising concerns about rapid development and the future of council, Capital Daily, Apr. 6, 2021. (Editors Note: In fact, Langford has had two mayors).

 

Strains over growth and transparency in Langford: More Langford citizens are expressing resentment over City Hall’s modus operandi.FOCUS Magazine, Jan. 17, 2021.

 

BYLAW NO. 819 , BYLAW TO REGULATE THE MEETINGS OF COUNCIL AND THE CONDUCT THEREOF, City of Langford, Mar., 2004.

 

 

 

John Treleaven, Chair, Grumpy Taxpayer$ 

treleavengroup@shaw.ca 

250.656.7899, cell 250.588.7899

 

George Barnhart, Board Member, Grumpy Taxpayer$

250-858-0780