By: Libi Uremovic | Original Article at patch.com
At the January 21, 2014 Beaumont Council Meeting City Manager Alan Kapanicas states that his company, General Government Management Services, was contracted to provide City Manager duties to the City of Beaumont.
Kapanicas stated that after he became a government employee in 2011 he provided the same service and trained City Staff to do the same functions as the employees in his company.
81:45 Kapanicas: “I get no extra money for the CFDs, I do it because I think it’s to keep the price down to our citizens.”
105:00 Kapanicas: “He’s correct, I am the Principal of a firm that does that, but that firm is not allowed to work in the City since June 21, 2011. It would … legally you want to make a comment on that, it’s State Law. I do not get anything more than a salary from the City of Beaumont. The Firm is still in action, it still does work in other places. I have employees in that portion, but I don’t think – this is a right to work State.”
106:00 Kapanicas: “Since June 21, 2011 – that’s very concise, I can only make the salary here. Up until then General Government Management Services actually paid a business license in this City it doesn’t pay any more because I can’t do business in the City. Don’t know how much more concise I can be. If it was prior to 2011 I got paid for the hours I worked. I would bill hourly as a Consultant. I billed as a Consultant. I didn’t get a salary, I wasn’t an employee. As an employee I can’t do outside work for the City. Anything I get paid beyond that salary contract, I’m very positive about it, it’s a very simple contact.”
112:30 Kapanicas; “If Council ever direct me not to do the CFDs, I’m fine. We can go get a Consultant for it. It will raise the cost, but that’s ok. And it would cut my work extremely. City Staff has taken over the Staff I had at GGMS’s work, so there’s no reason, and they can not get paid here, so it would be – it’s not allowed to work here.”
114:00 Kapanicas: “Nobody’s ever asked. The fictional accounts are great. I don’t read them because I don’t like fiction. [Brenda Knight chuckles] I’m much better reading self-help books. It’s never anything that anyone has ever asked. The Contract is quite clear and State Law is quite clear. Interestingly; one person always accused of what I would be doing if I did that. In the past, as a Consultant, I billed on an hourly basis per my Contract that was approved in 1993 with PSI.. a couple of them all the way up to 2005. Once 2011 came and the new Contract; it sat what I did and how I got paid. So I guess maybe sometimes just ask, but don’t accuse. There’s been an accusation here before. There’s been statements made, but no question.”
115:00 Castaldo: Mayor Berg appointed us to the Financial Committee several years ago. We looked over the checks very regularly and to my knowledge I did not see a check go out to GGMS other than your paycheck that was issued. If you remember seeing a check let me know.
Knight No.
118:20 City Attorney Wysocki: The City Manager’s business operation can not conduct business with the City of Beaumont.