Richmond will seek relief from state design rules for new facility - Richmond Times Dispatch
Acknowledging mistakes in its jail-planning process, Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones' administration revealed Monday that it will seek relief from state design requirements for the facility.
"There have been some mistakes but, in a project of this size, it's not unnecessarily unnatural," Jones said in an interview, in which he insisted that the city's procurement process had not been compromised.
Citing new and ongoing concerns about the process, the City Council considered but ultimately rejected an effort to reconsider its 7-2 vote on July 28 to approve a contract for the jail's design and construction. Councilman Charles R. Samuels made the motion to reconsider, but it was defeated on a 5-4 vote late Monday.
"This process, in many ways, was flawed, but those missteps will be rectified," Council President Kathy C. Graziano said in revealing what became the tie-breaking vote.
Councilman Chris A. Hilbert, who also voted against reconsideration, said he was troubled by the lack of transparency on the project but said it's time to move the much-needed jail project forward.
"We can get the redress (because) the administration has gotten the message loud and clear," he said.
Samuels, who previously voted for the jail contract, supported the motion for reconsideration, with council members E. Martin Jewell, Reva M. Trammell and Bruce W. Tyler. Voting against reconsideration were Graziano, Hilbert and council members Ellen F. Robertson, Cynthia I. Newbille and Douglas G. Conner Jr.
At the recommendation of City Attorney Allen L. Jackson, the council had met before the vote in a closed meeting for about 15 minutes to discuss probable litigation associated with a potential reconsideration.
"I don't know what to say, but I'm glad it's over for tonight," said Chief Administrative Officer Byron C. Marshall.
The administration announced earlier Monday that it was introducing a pair of proposed resolutions related to the jail project, including one that would allow the facility to be built to more lenient design standards of the American Correctional Association, rather than the state Department of Corrections.
The request, which requires the approval of the City Council and the state Board of Corrections, is aimed at allowing the city to build a jail with a rated capacity of 1,032 beds, excluding 108 special-population beds, without any additional cost.
The city would seek state support for a double-bunked cell that totals 80 square feet as recommended by the American Correctional Association, not the 115 square feet called for by state regulations.
In a briefing with the council, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Operations Christopher L. Beschler said the city's intention had been to build a jail with a rated capacity of 1,032 beds, even though its request for proposals effectively asked for a 924-bed facility. The required 108 special-population beds are not counted in the rated capacity.
Saying "the buck will stop at me," Beschler accepted responsibility for what he said were communication breakdowns among team members that left him and other senior officials not fully understanding the project's details. He apologized for erroneous statements and false impressions about the project being passed to council members.
In late July, the council voted 7-2 to award a contract with the Tompkins/Ballard Joint Venture for the design and construction of the jail. At that meeting, Jewell had challenged a statement by Sheriff C.T. Woody Jr. that the jail project had been approved by the state, and he also received assurances that the plan for a 1,032-bed facility included the 108 special-population beds.
"The only comment I've got is the plot thickens," Jewell said Monday.
Tyler, who with Jewell voted against the jail contract, said he's sorry that Beschler had accepted responsibility for mistakes instead of the mayor, who had addressed the issues in a lunch meeting with council.
"The mayor chose to put politics in front of people. They rammed it down our throats instead of dealing with our questions," Tyler said, referencing the mayor's lobbying effort before the July 28 vote.
"The guy who pushed the buttons (should be) the fall guy," Tyler added, referring to the mayor.
Copies were not immediately available, but officials said one of the proposed resolutions would make amendments to the city's community-based corrections plan and jail planning study to reflect changes made to the jail plans since 2009. The other would allow the jail to be designed to American Correctional Association standards.
Having issued a notice to proceed to Tompkins/Ballard, city officials said they are confident that the Board of Corrections will allow the jail to be designed to American Correctional Association standards.
"The state has allowed the modification before. We're asking them to allow that for the Richmond City Jail," Marshall said.
Council members did not address how quickly they will consider the resolutions, and Jones declined to discuss what might happen if they are rejected.
"I choose to be positive," he said.
School construction
The Jones administration also announced plans to award construction contacts to Martin Brothers Contractors Inc. of Roanoke for the new Broad Rock Elementary and Oak Grove Elementary schools.
The contracts, valued at $19.3 million and $19.8 million, respectively, come after the city redesigned the projects to scale back noncritical features. Initial bids for the schools exceeded their budgets and were canceled in May. As a result, the schools that were slated to open next September are now scheduled to open in January 2013.
13 Sep, 2011--
Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNG3klyjuU3lkHIIaTCyPVlyWCxvDA&url=http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/local-news/2011/sep/12/8/naacp-urges-reconsideration-of-city-jail-contract-ar-1303429/
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