By: Libi Uremovic, February 7, 2014 | Original Article at Patch.com
The Law Firm of Aklufi and Wysocki has assumed the Duties and Title of Beaumont City Attorney for over 20 years. Joe Aklufi holds the title of City Attorney and David Wysocki stated at the February 4, 2014 Beaumont City Council Meeting that he holds the title of Deputy City Attorney.
California Government Code 41801-41805 state that the city attorney shall advise the city officials in all legal matters pertaining to city business, frame an ordinance or resolution, and perform other legal services required. The Law Firm of Aklufi and Wysocki have grossly neglected their duties as Beaumont
City Attorney which has resulted in mismanagement of the City and taxpayer dollars.
State Law requires all government agencies to fill contracts through bidding and hiring practices provided by the California Contract Code. It is the duty of the
City Attorney to assure that the correct procedures are being utilized by the City. GAAP Auditor Craig Harztheim stated at 111:00 minute mark of the February 19, 2013 Beaumont City Council Meeting:
“..For instance; bid compliance. You know you’re suppose to go out and get three over $25,000 or $50,000, whatever the city’s policy is. You have three bids for a construction contract. So we go through and make sure three bids were received and you took the lowest responsible bidder and if you didn’t we want to know what you didn’t. And that’s going to be up to your City Attorney then to answer questions.”
There have been no contracts open for bid in the City of Beaumont for the past 20 years. In 2011, on the advise of the City Attorney Joe Aklufi, Alan Kapranicas was hired as Beaumont City Manager without advertising or accepting any applications – not even an application from Kapranicas himself was submitted. The City Attorney never did a background check or verified the education and employment history of Mr. Kapranicas.
The City of Beaumont has awarded Urban Logic Consultants a ‘City Engineering Services’ contract that awards Urban Logic Consultants all City contacts. The ‘contact to receive all contracts’ has not been publicly advertised or offered to any other companies.
This Contract presented by the Beaumont City Attorney has no actual work listed. The Contract states that when services are needed the City will submit a ‘Job Card’ to Urban Logic. A ‘job card’ is what an employer gives an employee listing his tasks for the day or week. The procedure the City is suggesting
violates California State law for competitive bidding on government contacts.
A Public Records Request was submitted for the list of Urban Logic Consultants employees and the City of Beaumont stated in their response letter they only other documentation aside from the Contract provided on Agenda Item 6.a.7 is a power point presentation. The City of Beaumont never requested a list or verified Urban Logic employees. The Law Firm of Aklufi and Wysocki never did background checks or verified the educational requirements needed to fulfill the contract.
The City of Beaumont is on the verge of insolvency. There are 11 lawsuits listed on the Agenda, the City has $300 million in debt and less than $5 million in liquid assets. The Law Firm of Alkufi & Wysocki are listed on the ‘Professional Services’ section of all of the Bonds held by Beaumont.
The incompetency and dereliction of duties of the Law Firm of Aklufi and Wysocki are a large contributing factor in the City of Beaumont’s demise.