Closing Ranks
With an Entire City Department Under Scrutiny, Committee Rejects Extra Oversight

By Lee Molloy

Flexing a little political muscle, the Capital Improvement Projects Oversight Committee (CIPOC) sent word to the City Commission that the CIP department, which oversees more than 100 city construction and other infrastructure renovation projects, doesn’t need another watchdog.

At their Aug. 31 meeting, the committee recommended that the City Commission cancel their plans to have an independent management consulting company analyze the structure and processes of the CIP department itself.

On July 15, commissioners decided to put the consulting job out to bid.

“Is it because the city is not happy?” CIPOC member Israel Magrisso asked Miami Beach Procurement Director Gus Lopes.

The department has come under scrutiny in recent years as some city officials, including Commissioner Ed Tobin, have criticized the CIP for paying too much for construction projects compared to the private sector — especially in a faltering, and therefore increasingly competitive, market for good and services.  

According to Lopes, the prospect of additional oversight over the CIP department was a concept that originated during a recent commission retreat. Lopes explained that the consultants would look at all the processes of the department. “It is not a specific audit,” he said.

Committee member Rick Kendle, however, was not convinced. Kendle said that recently-hired CIP Director Charlie Carreño should be given a chance to manage his office for a year or so before any analysis took place. Carreño took the helm on June 1, replacing Jorge Chartrand, who retired in December.

Fred Karlton, CIPOC member and Group 2 City Commission candidate, agreed with Kendle.

“[Carreño] ought to be given the chance, and the support, to figure out where his department is going,” Karlton said. “In my opinion [a consultant is] a waste of money, and I wouldn’t be for wasting money. … I just don’t get it.”

CIPOC chair Mayor Matti Bower pointed out that the majority of the commissioners in November would be either new to the dais, or relatively new, having been elected within the past two years. The study, Bower reasoned, would help give the new commissioners a better idea of the problems within the CIP department. (Bower is also running for reelection in November. On Aug. 27, Joshua Larose filed to run against her.)

“I think that the $100,000 is worth it if it is going to bring more transparency and clarity,” Bower said. “It’s not a lack of confidence in the new director.”

Bower told committee members that everybody on the commission agreed with launching the study. “I think that we wanted you to look at,” the proposal to bring in a consultant, Bower said. “To give you an opportunity to add things.”

However, Bowers argument hardly swayed the committee — they motioned to vote against the performing the study.

“Go back to the commission and tell them that this advisory board has said to them that they should reject this,” Karlton said.

Bower laughed off the rejection.

“The [CIPOC] wants to do it themselves,” she said. “They don’t want anybody telling them what to do.” Bower decided she would have to wait to flex her own voting might until the item came back to the commission. “There it might pass,” she said.

If Tobin’s sentiments are any indication, however, the whole commission may not agree. Observing the meeting from the audience, the commissioner expressed support for the position of the rest of the CIPOC.

“I’m right there with everybody,” Tobin said.

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