In order to cut red tape and provide faster services, George Gouzy, director of purchasing for the St. Tammany School Board, proposed a change in policy that would allow sole source manufacturers to bypass the bidding process.

Gouzy submitted his request during his purchasing report at the committee as a whole meeting Tuesday night.

La. R.S. 39:1597, effective July 1, 1980, states, “A contract may be awarded for a required supply… without competition when, under regulations, the chief procurement officer or his designee above the level of procurement officer determines in writing that there is only one source for the required supply…item.” Gouzy said that due to the specific nature of some items required, there is only one manufacturer for the item.

The procurement bidding process required under RS 38 requires the board to advertise for bids, wait 28 days to receive the bids, then open, review and award the bid. Gouzy expressed frustration at having to formally bid out items two and three times because only one bid was received.

By bypassing the procurement bid process and utilizing RS 39:1597, the school board will cut through the process and save time and money.

Gouzy said the procurement of sole source items would be included in his regular monthly reports.

School board member Ray Alfred voiced concern over the exemption to bidding and said, “I have reservations about this procedure.”

The committee agreed with Gouzy, passing the suggestion by a vote of 11-1 to send the matter to the board for consideration at its regular meeting. Alfred was the dissenting vote.

School Superintendent Gayle Sloan proposed a booster club and support organization policy that will set guidelines for organizations that support groups such as athletics teams, bands and other campus clubs.

“We must safeguard the trust of those parents that donate their time and efforts by instituting a policy,” Sloan said.

She proposed posting a proposed policy on the school board’s Web site in order to offer groups the opportunity to comment and offer their views about a policy before the school board take action to adopt such a policy.

The committee agreed by a vote of 12-0.

Jeff Schoen and Martin Bruno gave updates to the committee on parish planning and zoning and land use revisions ongoing in the parish. Many municipalities in the parish are also revising their planning and zoning ordinances and master plans for future growth. Educational facilities are being rezoned as institutional. For future planning, rezoning hearings will probably be required before the purchase of land for a new school.

Bids for construction projects were approved by the committee and will be sent for consideration to the regular board as follows:

Grosjean Contractors, Inc.’s bid for the Northshore High School gym re-roofing project with a low bid of $238,000 was accepted by a vote of 12-0.

Rotolo Consultants Inc.’s bid of $106,515 for C. J. Schoen Administrative Complex Preservation Plaza was accepted by a vote of 12-0.

Dant Clayton Corp.’s bid of $136,128 for the Slidell high School press box Replacement was accepted by a vote of 12-0;

And the low bid submitted by LaPorte Plumbing and Heating in the amount of $189,000 for plumbing leased portables was accepted by a vote of 11-1. Board member Donald Villere abstained because of a personal relationship with the bidder.

Monthly reports were given for maintenance, custodial, risk management and transportation departments.