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Regular Council Meeting <br />June 22, 2015 <br />Page 8 <br />Mr. Godwin clarified the contract the City had with AECOM did include in the project <br />budget a line item for inspectors. He said so far the City had used in -house inspectors until such <br />time they get too busy or the project becomes too big. He said in the next couple of months they <br />would bid out a really big 20 million dollar project and the City would have to hire outside <br />inspectors. Mayor Hashmi asked for a motion to combine items 14 and 15. <br />A Motion to combine items 14 and 15 was made by Council Member Lancaster and <br />seconded by Council Member Plata. Motion carried, 7 ayes – 0 nays. <br />Mr. Godwin said he thought a number of Council Members wanted to move forward now — <br />with the hiring of outside inspectors and that he was fine with that. He said they would need to <br />decide if they wanted to hire inspectors under AECOM or hire another firm outside of AECOM, <br />which would exclude HWH and Hayter Engineering. <br />Council Member Pickle confirmed with Mr. Godwin that the contract with AECOM had <br />funds for inspectors built into the contract. Mr. Godwin said if AECOM does not do the work <br />then they would not be paid for it and added this contract was not all or nothing contract. <br />Council Member Pickle also confirmed that the inspections done thus far had been in- house. Mr. <br />Godwin said at this point he was supportive of hiring another inspector. Council Member <br />Frierson said he trusted the judgment of the City Manager and City Engineer on following the <br />plan that was in place. Council Member Clifford favored hiring an inspector outside of the <br />county to come in and inspect the work. Council Member Clifford said based on what had <br />happened, he did not have confidence in the project and would like to see someone completely <br />independent assess it. Council Member Jenkins said he was for hiring an outside inspector, as <br />did Mayor Hashmi. Council Member Frierson wanted to know if it would be for all projects or <br />just large projects or when necessary. Council Member Lancaster said someone was not <br />watching this project, as well as other projects and she had shown those to the City Manager. <br />Council Member Clifford said he wanted to see an outside inspector hired right away beginning <br />with inspection of W. Houston Street from top to bottom and all bond projects should be as <br />inspected by an outside inspector. Mayor Hashmi said he was definitely for moving forward <br />with hiring an outside inspector for the areas concerned, including for all bond projects to ensure <br />everything is done correctly. Council Member Pickle asked if this would be an inspector other <br />than AECOM. Mayor Hashmi said that depended on the motion. <br />A Motion to instruct the City Manager to find an outside engineering firm with no ties to <br />the present contracts to inspect the work was made by Council Member Lancaster and seconded <br />by Council Member Clifford. Motion carried, 5 ayes – 2 nays, with Council Members Pickle <br />and Frierson casting the dissenting votes. <br />15. Discuss and act on appointment of an outside engineering firm for the purpose of <br />inspecting the water and sewer infrastructure projects. <br />16. Presentation by the engineering department on the infrastructure bond project progress and <br />the map that was presented to City Council, discuss and act. <br />