By Jamie Gardner
Sullivan Environmental Services General Manager Pete Pyrzenski expressed concern to members of the Appling County Board of Education on Monday, May 9, about a recent bid he had turned into the system for solid waste disposal and also asked the board to reconsider its recent decision to change vendors for solid waste (Sullivan was the system’s vendor for solid waste collection prior to bid solicitation). Pyrzenski stated that Sullivan Environmental Service had submitted a bid to Appling County Schools for solid waste collection in the amount of $3,639.00 per month. He then stated that the only other bid, submitted by All Green Services, was $4,423.00 per month.
Bidder alleges BOE acted improperly in bidding process
At a meeting held on April 11, the board approved a recommendation from Superintendent Scarlett Copeland and Maintenance and Operations Director Winton Herrin to go with All Green Services. Herrin reported at that meeting that Sullivan Environmental had not followed the correct bidding procedures.
At the May 9 meeting Pyrzenski said in reviewing the bid requirements, his company submitted a bid that would save the system money and also enhance the service the system is receiving. Pyrzenski also told board members that he and other employees had attempted to make contact with Herrin on several occasions through email and telephone calls and never received a reply. He added that if his company did not supply enough containers, he would guarantee that enough would be provided at no additional cost.
Board Attorney Alex Johnson questioned Pyrzenski as to why his company did not bid according to the exact containers the system currently has in place. Pyrzenski responded by telling Johnson that his company bid according to what was actually needed and best suited to serve the needs of the system. Pyrzenski told board members that he had only been with Sullivan Environmental for approximately one year and could not answer for the company before his arrival.
Board Member Scottie Ammons asked Pyrzenski how many times he had actually tried to contact Herrin. Pyrzenski responded that his company had sent two emails and three voicemails prior to the bid and one employee finally made contact with Herrin adding that the response his company received was that Herrin “was tired of the Sullivan monopoly in Appling County”.
Ammons also referred to a statement that Pyrzenski had made about current management of All Green Services. Pyrzenski stated that the former manager of Sullivan Environmental is now involved in the management of All Green Services. It was explained to Ammons that Sam Sullivan, the former owner/manager of Sullivan Environmental, is now involved with the management of All Green Services.
Later in the meeting Herrin asked Chairman Minnie Barnes if he could respond to the comments made by Pyrzenski. Herrin stated that he had attempted to respond to Pyrzenski or Sullivan Environmental on a number of occasions. He stated that he recalled being at a conference and leaving voicemails on Pyrzenski’s phone as well as sending an email to the company, which he said he would be happy to produce and also added that his cellular telephone bill would also show that he made the telephone calls to Pyrzenski. He also stated that he did not recall making a statement to an employee of Sullivan Environmental in which he said he had an issue with the company having a monopoly in the community.
Herrin stated that All Green Services made a proposal to the school system to reduce the cost for solid waste collection. Herrin added that the system had been paying Sullivan Environmental about $6,500.00 per month for solid waste collection for years. He then stated that he brought All Green’s proposal to the board and the board instructed him to solicit bids for the service. Herrin stated that the bid specifications were basically taken from the bills the system had been receiving from Sullivan in regard to the number of containers serviced. After reviewing the bids, Herrin stated that it was hard to compare what Sullivan had submitted as a bid, citing that in some cases the company proposed reducing the number of cans at certain schools.
Board Member Randy Crawford asked Herrin if Sam Sullivan was the former manager/owner of Sullivan Environmental. Herrin stated that he was not certain, but added that is what he had been told. Crawford stated that if Sam Sullivan was a former manager of Sullivan Environmental he could have made a better offer several years ago as manager of Sullivan Environmental. Herrin agreed.
At one point Pyrzenski told Herrin that he thought he (Herrin) was confused and Herrin responded by saying, “Pardon me”.
After a few more questions from board members to Herrin, Ammons stated that after hearing both men speak he was even more confused as to why no questions were asked about the way the bids were submitted. Ammons asked the board if the matter could be discussed further at an upcoming meeting since it was not on the agenda for the meeting.
Other business
Teresa Rogers addressed board members with concerns about the board’s policy on graduation ceremony requirements. Rogers stated that her son had went to school for 12 years, and because he could not pass one portion of the Georgia High School Graduation Test, he would not be able to participate in the system’s graduation ceremony. Copeland told Rogers that the issue was on the agenda and would be discussed during the meeting. Later in the meeting, board members voted to revise Policy IHF that deals with the county’s graduation ceremony policy. As a result of the vote, students that graduate from Appling County High School, or the Ombudsman Program, or simply receive a certificate of attendance will now be able to participate in the graduation ceremony.
Tony Douglas also asked a number of questions to board members. Douglas asked what the Ombudsman Program is used for by the system and it was stated that it is used for credit recovery for the high school and for discipline issues this year only. It was also explained to Douglas that an alternative school would be implemented next year to handle discipline issues within the system. Douglas also questioned when teacher contracts have to be renewed and it was reported that it is normally April 15. However, the state has granted a 30-day extension making the date May 15. It was also reported that this extension is good through 2013.
The board approved minutes from meetings held on April 7, April 11, April 21, and April 25.
The board voted to enter into a closed-door session during the meeting for personnel and litigation purposes. After a lengthy time behind closed doors, members voted to reopen the meeting and reported that no action would be taken as a result of the closed session.
During her superintendent’s report, Copeland told board members and the audience that the system had received the state allotment sheet on the Wednesday prior to the meeting. She reported that according to the projections, the system would experience a $1,079,127.00 shortfall for the 2011 - 2012 school year. Copeland stated that the board and staff are working hard to bring about a balanced budget.
Board members voted to fund $6,619.14 to keep the Appling County Canning Plant open this year.
The board approved a request from the Touchdown Club to construct a new cannon platform closer to the field at Jimmy Swain Stadium. The club will pay for the construction of the platform.
The board approved personnel recommendations for the 2011 - 2012 school year.
Also under personnel the board approved the resignations of Nixon Riviera, Melissa Johnson, Lisa Godwin and Sandra Padgett. The board approved to open one paraprofessional position at Altamaha Elementary School and four Pre-K positions at Appling County Primary School due to retirements and transfers.
Copeland updated board members on the track facility and stated the new facility would be incorporated with the ongoing ESPLOST projects.
At the May 9 meeting Pyrzenski said in reviewing the bid requirements, his company submitted a bid that would save the system money and also enhance the service the system is receiving. Pyrzenski also told board members that he and other employees had attempted to make contact with Herrin on several occasions through email and telephone calls and never received a reply. He added that if his company did not supply enough containers, he would guarantee that enough would be provided at no additional cost.
Board Attorney Alex Johnson questioned Pyrzenski as to why his company did not bid according to the exact containers the system currently has in place. Pyrzenski responded by telling Johnson that his company bid according to what was actually needed and best suited to serve the needs of the system. Pyrzenski told board members that he had only been with Sullivan Environmental for approximately one year and could not answer for the company before his arrival.
Board Member Scottie Ammons asked Pyrzenski how many times he had actually tried to contact Herrin. Pyrzenski responded that his company had sent two emails and three voicemails prior to the bid and one employee finally made contact with Herrin adding that the response his company received was that Herrin “was tired of the Sullivan monopoly in Appling County”.
Ammons also referred to a statement that Pyrzenski had made about current management of All Green Services. Pyrzenski stated that the former manager of Sullivan Environmental is now involved in the management of All Green Services. It was explained to Ammons that Sam Sullivan, the former owner/manager of Sullivan Environmental, is now involved with the management of All Green Services.
Later in the meeting Herrin asked Chairman Minnie Barnes if he could respond to the comments made by Pyrzenski. Herrin stated that he had attempted to respond to Pyrzenski or Sullivan Environmental on a number of occasions. He stated that he recalled being at a conference and leaving voicemails on Pyrzenski’s phone as well as sending an email to the company, which he said he would be happy to produce and also added that his cellular telephone bill would also show that he made the telephone calls to Pyrzenski. He also stated that he did not recall making a statement to an employee of Sullivan Environmental in which he said he had an issue with the company having a monopoly in the community.
Herrin stated that All Green Services made a proposal to the school system to reduce the cost for solid waste collection. Herrin added that the system had been paying Sullivan Environmental about $6,500.00 per month for solid waste collection for years. He then stated that he brought All Green’s proposal to the board and the board instructed him to solicit bids for the service. Herrin stated that the bid specifications were basically taken from the bills the system had been receiving from Sullivan in regard to the number of containers serviced. After reviewing the bids, Herrin stated that it was hard to compare what Sullivan had submitted as a bid, citing that in some cases the company proposed reducing the number of cans at certain schools.
Board Member Randy Crawford asked Herrin if Sam Sullivan was the former manager/owner of Sullivan Environmental. Herrin stated that he was not certain, but added that is what he had been told. Crawford stated that if Sam Sullivan was a former manager of Sullivan Environmental he could have made a better offer several years ago as manager of Sullivan Environmental. Herrin agreed.
At one point Pyrzenski told Herrin that he thought he (Herrin) was confused and Herrin responded by saying, “Pardon me”.
After a few more questions from board members to Herrin, Ammons stated that after hearing both men speak he was even more confused as to why no questions were asked about the way the bids were submitted. Ammons asked the board if the matter could be discussed further at an upcoming meeting since it was not on the agenda for the meeting.
Other business
Teresa Rogers addressed board members with concerns about the board’s policy on graduation ceremony requirements. Rogers stated that her son had went to school for 12 years, and because he could not pass one portion of the Georgia High School Graduation Test, he would not be able to participate in the system’s graduation ceremony. Copeland told Rogers that the issue was on the agenda and would be discussed during the meeting. Later in the meeting, board members voted to revise Policy IHF that deals with the county’s graduation ceremony policy. As a result of the vote, students that graduate from Appling County High School, or the Ombudsman Program, or simply receive a certificate of attendance will now be able to participate in the graduation ceremony.
Tony Douglas also asked a number of questions to board members. Douglas asked what the Ombudsman Program is used for by the system and it was stated that it is used for credit recovery for the high school and for discipline issues this year only. It was also explained to Douglas that an alternative school would be implemented next year to handle discipline issues within the system. Douglas also questioned when teacher contracts have to be renewed and it was reported that it is normally April 15. However, the state has granted a 30-day extension making the date May 15. It was also reported that this extension is good through 2013.
The board approved minutes from meetings held on April 7, April 11, April 21, and April 25.
The board voted to enter into a closed-door session during the meeting for personnel and litigation purposes. After a lengthy time behind closed doors, members voted to reopen the meeting and reported that no action would be taken as a result of the closed session.
During her superintendent’s report, Copeland told board members and the audience that the system had received the state allotment sheet on the Wednesday prior to the meeting. She reported that according to the projections, the system would experience a $1,079,127.00 shortfall for the 2011 - 2012 school year. Copeland stated that the board and staff are working hard to bring about a balanced budget.
Board members voted to fund $6,619.14 to keep the Appling County Canning Plant open this year.
The board approved a request from the Touchdown Club to construct a new cannon platform closer to the field at Jimmy Swain Stadium. The club will pay for the construction of the platform.
The board approved personnel recommendations for the 2011 - 2012 school year.
Also under personnel the board approved the resignations of Nixon Riviera, Melissa Johnson, Lisa Godwin and Sandra Padgett. The board approved to open one paraprofessional position at Altamaha Elementary School and four Pre-K positions at Appling County Primary School due to retirements and transfers.
Copeland updated board members on the track facility and stated the new facility would be incorporated with the ongoing ESPLOST projects.
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