Miscikowski Seeks to Pull City Construction Contract

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski called Friday for the revocation of a contract with an Agoura Hills construction company whose operator has been charged with conspiracy and grand theft in connection with another city contract.

Miscikowski, who said there is “a cloud over” Guy Construction Co. because of the charges, will ask the council to consider pulling the contract and awarding it instead to the second-lowest bidder, Begl Construction Co. of Van Nuys.

“At the very least, we have serious questions that have been raised about Mr. Levy’s business ethics,” said Glenn Barr, a Miscikowski deputy.

Moshe Levy, who operates Agoura Hills-based Guy Construction Co., and David Farrell, 41, of Manhattan Beach, part-owner of a small Northridge apartment building, were charged Feb. 17 in the alleged collection of $35,321 in public funds from 1995 through 1997 for insurance they never obtained and for work not performed, officials with the city attorney’s office have said.

The contract involved a five-unit apartment building in the 18400 block of Vincennes Street in Northridge,

The day after Levy was charged, the Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners voted to award the company a $1.77-million contract to construct a gym at Pacific Palisades Recreation Center. Residents had raised $760,000 more to help pay for the project, Barr said.

After the vote, officials from the city attorney’s office notified board members that charges had been filed and the board agreed to reconsider the contract award April 1. But after hearing a report on the charges, they voted to allow Guy Construction to proceed.

Officials with the Recreation and Parks Department said Guy Construction is completing four other contracts for the department without problems.

The City Council is expected to consider Miscikowski’s motion to reconsider the contract next week.