GEORGETOWN -- The proposal of a new vendor for designing and hosting the city's Web site drew controversy Thursday as council members alleged a push for a local vendor hinted at favoritism and illegal bidding procedures.
Although the city's network administrator, Kevin Rapps, recommended E Gov Link as the vendor for Web design and hosting, Councilman Paige Sawyer made a motion to approve a bid from Methods Development Inc., a Georgetown company.
"I make the motion that they go with second highest better, MDI," Sawyer said. "They are a local business. With their business license and utility fee would it would make up the $230 difference. We as a city need to support our local businesses rather than one out of state."
MDI's bid came in at $4,930 and E Gov Link was the lowest bid at $4,700.
Rapps pointed out that MDI did not provide Web hosting services and it would be handled by an out-of-state vendor. .
E Gov Link is the better deal, Rapps said, and from what he saw from the two companies' Web sites, E Gov had the capabilities to meet the city's future needs.
Rapps did say he did not have a chance to talk with the staff at MDI.
"Do we know that they couldn't meet that need?" questioned Councilwoman Jeanette Ard. "He lives here. I think his availability to come in and fix any problem would be a great selling point for them. Do we know they don't have capability? This is why we need to have some dialogue with this vendor. We need to have the same consideration for everyone. He may have the capability to add utility payments down the line. We need to live here and spend here."
Sawyer pointed out that a representative of MDI was present and could answer questions. When the representative came up to the podium several council members objected to him speaking.
Councilman Brendon Barber said MDI's presence before council was in violation of federal and state bidding regulations. He said it also gave MDI an unfair advantage.
"He shouldn't even be up here," Barber said. "He is the vendor in question. You know you are in violation. This is getting ready to be a circus."
Councilman Rudolph Bradley also objected.
"As a point of order I don't think this is appropriate," Bradley said. "The other businesses are not here. It is not fair."
Bradley defended Rapps' recommendations, saying Rapps had been hired to guide the city's information technology services.
"I don't have a problem promoting business at home when it should be," Bradley said. "We can't deal with the buddy-buddy good old boy system."
Sawyer said he knows the owner of MDI socially because they live in the same neighborhood, but denied any favoritism.
"It could have been anyone in the city and I would have voiced the same thing," Sawyer said. "We need to promote our local businesses."
Sawyer said, in hindsight, calling MDI to the podium was not likely the right thing to do but he was just trying to make sure Rapps got a chance to ask his questions.
The council voted to move the item off the agenda until Rapps and Finance Director Jessica Miller get a chance to make further inquires from all the vendors in order to be fair.
In other business, a hearing on whether to revoke Casablanca II's business license will be on April 8 at 5:30 p.m.
The City Council will be the body to make the determination on the future of the bar and restaurant's license, which was suspended Monday, effectively shutting down the club until the hearing.
There have been 43 incidents in and around the club since 2008, said Chief Paul Gardner, with the Georgetown City Police Department.
The bar's manager, Juan Rivera, said the incidents actually include instances when the bar has called police for help.
One of the incidents includes a shooting last week.
One man was shot in the buttock after a fight at the club at 1807 Front St. at about 3 a.m. March 9.
The victim said he heard a gunshot and then was hit by a second gunshot, according to a police report.
The club does have the right to file an appeal within 10 days of the suspension.
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