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Portland Observer, March 9, 1983 Page 3
METROPOLITAN
My husband and I
did everything
together. We even
decided on our
funeral plans
together. When John died it
wa« much easier lor me There were
so many things that had to be done.
I know I carried out his wishes because
we discussed them ahead of time. We
even had money put aside in a special
plan available through our funeral
home. It was a great relief. I wish
more people knew about it.
Please send for our free booklets on
funeral planning
CALDWELLS
COLONIAL
MORTUARY
Rlch Jali and Ellaa Campbell demónstrate m a­
china w o rk at Banaon P olytachnlcal School'a
"Tach Show." Tha ahow providas tha community
an opportunity to saa demonstrations of studanta'
work in a variety of vocational areas.
(Photo: Richard J. Brown)
Contractors oppose MSD process
by James H ill
Over the principled abstention of
District
II
councilor Marge
Kafoury, amidst protests from sev­
eral black businessmen in the audi­
ence, the Metropolitan Service Dis­
trict (M S D ) awarded what is reput­
ed to be the largest contract granted
a m inority owned concern in
Oregon on February 24.
The Alaska Tundra E xhib it, to
become a part o f the Washington
Park Zoo, was awarded to a joint
venture formed February 9, to Rob­
erto Roles & Associates and RP&I
General Contractors on a low bid of
$1,482,352. Several options avail­
able to Metro could reduce the bid
by two-thirds the awarded amount.
Several spokesmen and officials
from the National Business League.
Oregon Chapter (N B L O C ), and
black-owned businesses, questioned
the procedural process, the lack of
consistent M SD minority business
enterprise (M BE) policy in contract
letting and a seeming lack of integ­
rity demonstrated by the winning
general contractors on the largest
contract to be let during this fiscal
year.
The code of ethics governing con­
tractors appeared to be violated in
this contract. The usual case, a r­
ticulated by O .B . h ill. Vice Presi­
dent N B L, is that general contract­
ors “ generally make their intentions
to bid on a contract known to all in­
terested subcontractors and sup­
p liers.” They make the process
known so that, according to M r.
H ill, “ the lowest competitive bid
possible is submitted to the con­
tractor in order to maximize profit
and minimize loss.”
Two MSD councilors raised con­
cern about the M B E program and
although members Jack Deines and
Bruce Etlinger presented logical ar­
guments about staff conduct they
joined the m ajo rity in voting to
award the contract to the joint ven­
ture.
“ I think there is something wrong
with M e tro ’ s contracting proce­
dures.” added Etlinger, after allud­
ing to possible bribes or other staff
misconduct. He held M S D blame­
less.
Councilor Cindy Hanrer did not
feel that council member were duty
bound to comment on a n d /o r to
question policies proposed by the
staff, and Jack Deines* comments
suggested that there was too much
ambivalence and loo many options
available to contractors.
$52,447 separated the successful
joint venture and the second lowest
apparent bidder O .T .K .M . C on­
struction. Inc. The total minority
and female participation is approxi­
mately 58 percent based on informa­
tion from Metro at press time as A l­
exander Landscaping is reportedly
in line to receive a subcontract for
$75,000. The A lexander contract
was not a part o f the documents
submitted to Metro during the com­
petitive bidding period. Alexander
and R P& I spokespersons were not
available to answer for comment per
telephone calls made to their o f­
fices. It would appear that Alexan­
der Landscaping will receive some
funds from the contract on a negoti­
ated basis.
Gary D . Hansen, councilor o f
District 12, whose district includes
DR. BRADY’S
à
E C O N O M IC R EC O VER Y
FOR SA V IN G TE E TH
FOR FA M IL V DENT IS TR V A T
LOWER COSTS
“ SA VIN G TEETH 1983”
HIGH QUALITY PORCELAIN CROWNS A BRIDGES
TWILIGHT SLEEP
REINFORCED PORCELAIN CAPS
PHONE IN FOR A FREE ESTIMATE
8 OTHER A N E S T H E T IC S BY R EG ISTER ED A N E S T H E T IS T
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OPENSATUROAYS
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Park F r e e — Any Park n Shop LOt
DR. JEFFREY BRADY, D E N T IS T -
SEMLERBLDG.
SALEM
S W 3rd A Yamhill
, 10’ j C om m ercial N E
Downtown PORTLAND
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581 8699
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about half o f the black community,
received notice from Charles Crews,
President o f NBL, about his voting
conduct on the matter. In a March
I, 1983 letter, M r. Crews writes.
“ Although clear evidence was pre­
sented before you concerning the in­
consistencies in Metro's MBE poli­
cies which caused mass confusion
among contractors, you still voted
to award the contract. The most
devastating blow to black contract­
ors was your insensitivity to the
needs of your constituents who live
and operate in your district.” Crews
later added, “ One thing Chicago
taught us is that persons not sensi­
tive to black needs.. .w ill feel the
sting o f that action at the ballot
box.”
The apparent winning contractors
were simply represented by Donald
Matsuda, Small Business Adminis­
tration (SBA) minority business ad­
vocate, who substantiated that joint
venture participants met all qualifi­
cation as 8(a) contractors.
Henry Pelfrew, President, D irt
and Aggregate Interchange, In c.,
emoted words to the effect that he
was “ c o lo rb lin d ” on the award
letting matter. Pelfrey was a mem­
ber of a bid review panel established
February 3 by a motion sponsored
by councilor K afo ury. A black
walkout occurred during the Febru­
ary I Ith bid review panel meeting
after a black businessman was re­
buked by McCay Rich of the Zoo
and Sue Kobertznz, Metro contract
officer who decides the meeting di­
rection panel’s course of action.
Other testimony by black people
before the board included a charge
that “ Metro has joined forces with
the Associated General Contractors
who represent to black entrepren­
eurs today in the economic market­
place what the Klu Klux Kian has al­
ways stood fo r—which has resulted
in numerous lynchings, castrations,
and other forms of genocide against
black people. A GC has a national
policy with respect to Minority Busi­
ness Enterprise programs to destroy
and destabilize black contractors
and suppliers.”
James Berry, NBL Executive Sec­
retary. contacted by telephone,
added, “ MBE contractors were de­
ceived by M E T R O and R P A I. The
joint venture was not on the revised
list supplied by Alaska Tundra Ex­
hibit architects, “ so no one knew
they were bidding."
Metro’s MBE program appears to
be founded on the premise that,
“ We (M etro) provide the rules and
the problems; black entrepreneurs
follow the rules and end up as the
problem while not benefiting eco­
n o m ically,” adds N B L President
Charles Crews, summing up his or­
ganization’s position on the Alaska
Tundra Exhibit.
Metro has plans on the drawing
board for an African Tundra Exhib­
it, according to a reliable source
who desires to remain anonymous.
He adds, “ We (blacks) need to
come into the bid process as the low
bidder as ’greasy as possible* and
slide into some of Metro’s money.”
■HI
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