At many times, Hartford City government appears to be the height of incompetence. City employees who are paid very large salaries to protect the interests of the taxpayer's of Hartford, seem to do just the opposite.
Time and time again we seem to hear about the dirty deals and everyone benefiting off City Hall, except the people that have made the commitment to live here. Whether it is properties being given away for $1.00 to outsiders under the guise of "economic development" or a stadium deal that appears to be very flawed from the start.
Here is just one more example of how flawed that deal was. In an agreement between the City of Hartford, Centerplan and DONO Hartford, LLC from February 4, 2015. To protect the City (and its taxpayers) a clause was negotiated in that agreement to require Centerplan and DONO Hartford LLC, to provide a letter of credit to the City to protect the City's interests in the event of a default, exactly like we are seeing right now.
The agreement was pretty specific, and the exact wording from the document is below.
Unfortunately, according to numerous City Hall sources, the letter of credit was never provided, and apparently does not exist , and no one ever followed up to require it. This incompetence now apparently spans at least two administrations, it was begun by the Segarra Administration and it would seem that no one in the Bronin Administration has followed up to make sure all of the required "t's" have been crossed and the "i's" dotted, since taking over.
This is, or should be basic construction management for anyone that understands the construction industry. I think it is clear by now between Dillon Stadium and the Yardgoats stadium, that no one on the City level understands what it means to "manage" a construction project.
Typically on a construction project someone is monitoring, and enforcing all relevant requirements. Is your licensing up to date and current? Do they have copies of you current license? Is your liability insurance up to date and current? Do they have copies of your current insurance certificates? Is any required letter of credit or bond up to date? Do they have current copies?
Normally, unless you are working for the City of Hartford, failure to comply with those requirements is a quick way to the exit door from the project until you are in compliance. That is done to protect the interests of the client and the integrity of the project. I guess no one is interested in protecting our interests as the client.
Does no one in Development Services or even on the Stadium Authority know how to prepare a checklist and put a simple check mark after the required documents when they are received? Letter of Credit from Centerplan.....check. Or if it is not received a year and a half later... maybe some follow up.
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