After an easy morning with the V.I. Inspector General’s Office, senators changed their tone as they faced off with officials from the Bureau of Information Technology (BIT), who spent a few hours trying to explain some of the actions taken by their recently fired former director.
At particular issue was some of the bureau’s professional service contracts, including one with Virginia-based LTI XX, which officials said was sole-sourced after the company performed some previous work on a project.
BIT acting director Paul Arnold said he had not been involved in the general process but explained that the bureau’s former head John George requested at the time that the company continue on with the second phase of the project, instead of having the $3 million contract put out to bid.
Senators concerns over that tidbit of information eventually gave way to a whole new discussion on communications towers, and Arnold was asked whether BIT has a plan for what it’s going to do with six towers it currently has sitting on the ground, unused.
This issue has been a sore spot for senators over the past couple years, as many have complained about appropriating millions to buy the equipment only to see it gather dust — a sentiment that was repeated Thursday as Arnold said a couple would get off the ground over the next six months.
Arnold said the bureau also has its own concerns about the towers, such as finding qualified employees — and enough funding — to maintain them.
Budget and Appropriations Committee chairman Sen. Carlton "Ital" Dowe requested that the bureau submit its plan for the towers within the next three weeks.
Switching back to the topic of the day, which was the bureau’s budget, Arnold said BIT’s recommended General Fund budget for fiscal year 2011 was $2.8 million, along with an additional $1.4 million in the miscellaneous section of the budget for software licensing, equipment maintenance and tower construction costs.
Senators wrapped up the day with officials from the Law Enforcement Planning Commission (LEPC), whose head spoke openly about concerns he has with the V.I. Police Department being able to spend the federal funds it’s awarded through the agency.
When senators took issue with testimony that VIPD had spent only a fraction of about $1 million in federal economic stimulus funds it’s been awarded over the past few months, LEPC head Meredith Nielsen said that these kinds of issues were "consistent" within the department and are being tracked by the governor.
It was said later that in some cases, the grants have extended expiration dates, giving VIPD, for example, until 2011 or 2012 to spend some of the money.
The proposed budget for LEPC in FY 2011 is $671,301, which Nielsen said is about 9 percent less than the agency’s FY 2010 appropriation. However, LEPC will be making up the shortfall with federal funds that can cover expenses covered in the past by the General Fund, he added.
LEPC’s General Fund allotment covers salaries and fringe benefits for eight employees, while another five employees are paid with federal funds.
Present during Thursday’s hearing were Sens. Carlton "Ital" Dowe, Wayne James, Terrence "Positive" Nelson, Usie R. Richards, Sammuel Sanes and Patrick Simeon Sprauve.
