PLACENTIA : Attempt to Bypass Bid Process Stopped

A Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District trustee defeated an attempt to hire a contractor to renovate the Esperanza High School pool without going through the normal bidding process.

School officials asked trustees to forgo bidding requirements Monday and hire a contractor immediately so the pool could be renovated as soon as possible. They added that the pool would not be ready until midyear if they had to hire a consultant, prepare specifications and meet public-notice requirements.

Even so, Trustee Barbara Williams said she doubted that renovating the pool was an emergency situation and voted against hiring Del Mar Baron. Under board policy, the bidding process can be waived only if all board members agree to declare it an emergency condition.

In the past few years, vandals have damaged the pool with chemicals that have deteriorated its plaster. School officials shut down the facility July 15 after white debris was found floating.

“To me, it’s not proven that this is an emergency,” said Williams, the only trustee to vote against the hiring. “I don’t feel comfortable that this is the lowest possible bid.”

Although school officials did not get bids, they solicited proposals from three companies. Del Mar Baron, which had the lowest proposal, offered to do the work for $143,270.

Other trustees said that if the pool is not completed by the fall, it will create a burden because swimmers would have to go elsewhere.

“Do you have any evidence that is not the lowest bid?,” Trustee Bill Kielty asked Williams.

“I’m curious what makes you an expert on pool maintenance.”