COSTA MESA : Probe of Conspiracy Charges Requested

City Manager Allan L. Roeder has called for a police investigation into anonymous charges that top city officials conspired to try to have the City Council award a $100,000 consulting contract.

Two letters were given this week to news organizations and later reached the city manager. They made charges against Roeder, Mayor Sandra L. Genis, City Atty. Thomas A. Kathe and Finance Director Susan L. Temple.

The letters say officials worked to avoid the bidding process in order to make a “sweetheart deal” with AEF Systems Consulting Inc. The city is looking for a consultant to provide technical assistance in the purchase of a $3- to $7-million computer system to control all records, accounting and payroll and serve other needs.

Roeder said the anonymous charges are false, but he has nevertheless asked police to independently evaluate the allegations against him and others. A report will be made to the council when the police investigation is concluded.

Roeder also asked police to find the author of the letter, who he believes is a city employee.

The council on Monday delayed voting on a request from the Communications Department to approve the contract with AEF and asked for more information. Genis and Councilman Peter F. Buffa said in a study session before the regular meeting that they want further explanation of why AEF was chosen without competition.

Temple said consultants may be chosen without the competitive bidding, which is required for most city contracts.

AEF was chosen by communications director Vince Wheelan, who is responsible for operating the city’s present computer systems. Wheelan said he studied other cities’ computer systems, and most liked the system in Oxnard, which was designed with the help of AEF.

Temple, noting the charges of her conspiracy to help AEF, said she had never met or dealt with the consultants until Wheelan suggested their use. Temple said her staff called eight references given by the Newport Beach firm, and got enthusiastic recommendations.

They also compared the AEF proposed cost for the project with similar jobs done for other agencies and found it to be cheaper than many, Temple said.

Putting the contract out to bid would probably have added six weeks to the process, Temple said. Roeder said the city needs a more advanced computer system as soon as possible.

“I have put a lot of pressure on (Wheelan) and other people in the organization to get on with this,” he said.

Roeder said he generally favors competitive bidding but believes Wheelan and Temple have done a thorough job in their selection of AEF. He will ask the two to present their research in writing at the council’s April 18 meeting. The project may yet go to bid.