Friends,
On January 12th, I took out nomination papers to once again serve you as one of your eight City Councilors at Large. It has been my pleasure since 1994 to be your fiscal watchdog and advocate on the City Council. I will once again be running an energetic campaign for re-election.
Over the last two years, I created this blog as one more way to serve you, listen to your concerns and to make your City Hall a little more transparent.
There is so much uncertainity in the world and the greater national fiscal crisis is hitting home to so many of our citizens. Government resources are down and people's needs are up but like Holyokers together we will get through these trying times as we always have: better and stronger.
I feel that my leadership skills and financial acumen are needed now in City Hall more than ever. In November, we will also be electing a new Mayor and I am committed to making his or her transition as smooth as possible.
Holyoke has so much to look forward to and goals yet to be achieved. All people live at a given hour for a given purpose and our generation shall not fail to meet its highest expectations.
I wish you and your loved ones the very best for 2009. I again respectfully ask for one of your 8 votes for Councilor At Large.
Please never hestitate to call me at 538-5519 or email at kevin.jourdain@verizon.net if I can answer a question, provide you with assistance or if you have a concern.
With warmest regards,
Kevin A. Jourdain
Re-Elect Holyoke's Fiscal Watchdog!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Cellular phone bills targeted
Cellular phone bills targeted
Thursday, February 12, 2009
By KEN ROSS
kross@repub.com
HOLYOKE - City officials looking to save every penny have found a place to pinch a few: cell phones.
Faced with an annual bill of approximately $50,000 for 106 phones, the city recently did what many savvy consumers are doing now - bargaining for a lower price.
According to David A. Martins, chief procurement officer for the city, Holyoke was able to negotiate an estimated 25 to 35 percent cut in its monthly cell phone bill with Sprint, the city's cell phone provided. But that bill might end up being even lower. That's because Martins is negotiating with several cell phone companies to see if the city can get an even lower rate.
"We're looking at some major cuts come July 1," Martins said Tuesday.
The issue came into the public spotlight late last month when City Councilor Kevin A. Jourdain filed an order with the council to review the city's cell phone usage. As part of the order, Jourdain included the monthly cell phone bill for the period ending Dec. 12. The detailed bill included exactly how much employees spent during that one-month period.
The highest single cell phone bill was for Assessor Anthony Dulude, who's city-paid cell phone bill that month was $182.84. He was followed by:
School Superintendent Eduardo Caballo: $100.74.
Tax Collector Robert F. Kane, $85.01
City Solicitor Karen Betournay, $84.97.
Mayor Michael J. Sullivan, $80.08
The bill also included totals by department. The highest was the School Department. Not including Caballo, the School Department paid $1,722.47 for 48 phones (an average of $35.88 per phone) that month.
The next highest was the Police Department, which spent $490.76 on 20 phones ($24.53 per phone) that month. Next came the fire department, which spent $309.55 on 12 phones ($25.79 per phone) that month.
Other department expenditures include:
Department of Public Works, 4 phones, $178.88 total, $44.72 per phone.
Parks Department, 8 phones, $176.62 total, $22.07 per phone.
Building Department, 3 phones, $121.53 total, $40.51 per phone.
The council referred the order to review the bill to the council's Finance Committee. The committee was scheduled to meet on Wednesday, but no discussion about the order was expected because, Jourdain said, the council was still waiting to hear back from city department heads about the bill. The council also wants to receive detailed call-by-call records for every phone. They have already received such records from the police and school departments, Jourdain said.
"We want to make them aware of it," Jourdain said Tuesday. "Is it really necessary to have all these phones? It's a big bill."
Jourdain added, "That (the city's total monthly cell phone bill) seems like a lot of money to me... We need to question a lot of things we took for granted in the past."
Martins said Tuesday that his office began negotiating with Sprint for a lower bill before Jourdain filed the order. Still, Martins said he understands and appreciates Jourdain's concern, given the current economic climate.
Martins added that each department head decides its own cell phone budget. He simply negotiates the lowest rate possible for all the city's cell phones.
"What I do is combine them in one shared plan," he said.
Martins added he hopes to get an even lower rate for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1. That's because the current business climate is so competitive given the current economic downturn.
©2009 The Republican
© 2009 MassLive.com All Rights Reserved
Thursday, February 12, 2009
By KEN ROSS
kross@repub.com
HOLYOKE - City officials looking to save every penny have found a place to pinch a few: cell phones.
Faced with an annual bill of approximately $50,000 for 106 phones, the city recently did what many savvy consumers are doing now - bargaining for a lower price.
According to David A. Martins, chief procurement officer for the city, Holyoke was able to negotiate an estimated 25 to 35 percent cut in its monthly cell phone bill with Sprint, the city's cell phone provided. But that bill might end up being even lower. That's because Martins is negotiating with several cell phone companies to see if the city can get an even lower rate.
"We're looking at some major cuts come July 1," Martins said Tuesday.
The issue came into the public spotlight late last month when City Councilor Kevin A. Jourdain filed an order with the council to review the city's cell phone usage. As part of the order, Jourdain included the monthly cell phone bill for the period ending Dec. 12. The detailed bill included exactly how much employees spent during that one-month period.
The highest single cell phone bill was for Assessor Anthony Dulude, who's city-paid cell phone bill that month was $182.84. He was followed by:
School Superintendent Eduardo Caballo: $100.74.
Tax Collector Robert F. Kane, $85.01
City Solicitor Karen Betournay, $84.97.
Mayor Michael J. Sullivan, $80.08
The bill also included totals by department. The highest was the School Department. Not including Caballo, the School Department paid $1,722.47 for 48 phones (an average of $35.88 per phone) that month.
The next highest was the Police Department, which spent $490.76 on 20 phones ($24.53 per phone) that month. Next came the fire department, which spent $309.55 on 12 phones ($25.79 per phone) that month.
Other department expenditures include:
Department of Public Works, 4 phones, $178.88 total, $44.72 per phone.
Parks Department, 8 phones, $176.62 total, $22.07 per phone.
Building Department, 3 phones, $121.53 total, $40.51 per phone.
The council referred the order to review the bill to the council's Finance Committee. The committee was scheduled to meet on Wednesday, but no discussion about the order was expected because, Jourdain said, the council was still waiting to hear back from city department heads about the bill. The council also wants to receive detailed call-by-call records for every phone. They have already received such records from the police and school departments, Jourdain said.
"We want to make them aware of it," Jourdain said Tuesday. "Is it really necessary to have all these phones? It's a big bill."
Jourdain added, "That (the city's total monthly cell phone bill) seems like a lot of money to me... We need to question a lot of things we took for granted in the past."
Martins said Tuesday that his office began negotiating with Sprint for a lower bill before Jourdain filed the order. Still, Martins said he understands and appreciates Jourdain's concern, given the current economic climate.
Martins added that each department head decides its own cell phone budget. He simply negotiates the lowest rate possible for all the city's cell phones.
"What I do is combine them in one shared plan," he said.
Martins added he hopes to get an even lower rate for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1. That's because the current business climate is so competitive given the current economic downturn.
©2009 The Republican
© 2009 MassLive.com All Rights Reserved
Holyoke First Poll: Holyokers Top Priorities for 2009
Holyoke First Bloggers voted:
31% Passing Lowes and more economic development
26% A new senior center
19% The problems in Treasurer's office
19% Rebuilding the downtown
18% The school department
16% The Mayor's Race
16% Improving our image and marketing the city
15% Watching our budget & keeping down taxes
15% Library Renovation Project
14% Public Safety & Crime Prevention
9% More investment in infrastructure
Thank you for everyone who participated.
31% Passing Lowes and more economic development
26% A new senior center
19% The problems in Treasurer's office
19% Rebuilding the downtown
18% The school department
16% The Mayor's Race
16% Improving our image and marketing the city
15% Watching our budget & keeping down taxes
15% Library Renovation Project
14% Public Safety & Crime Prevention
9% More investment in infrastructure
Thank you for everyone who participated.
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