Remarks by Dr. Erika Sugarmon
63 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 1 of 3
Thank you, Madam Chair. And so I just need clarification because I understand that you stated that it was the Purchase Department decided to go single source, and then they stated it was your department. So who actually decided on having this go the route of a single source, number one? And then also I heard that you stated that it was publicized. So my question then becomes how many respondents responded to this? Do we have any non-responses? So can you answer the first question and then I'll let Director Walter chime in.
Yes. Whose decision was it to place this as a single source bid as opposed to going the regular route?
But we submitted it to purchasing and I will pause there to let the administrative purchasing talk about the actual next steps okay thank you director glosser so then it was a single source were there any other respondents and it seems like this decision was already made if you wanted to continue with this particular vendor but can you answer that question
So what I'm hearing you saying, even though one was already pre-selected, If other vendors had applied, they could have won this particular bid. Is that what I'm hearing?
Commissioner Sugarman. Thank you, Madam Chair. As a classroom teacher of Memphis Shelby County Schools for over 28 years, where I've taught over 8,000 students, we have a short memory span because the state has been interfering constantly with our opportunities and opportunities to rectify the situation that they claim going to rectify. Do you all recall the Achievement School District that created a promise to turn around Tennessee's lowest performing schools and provide our children with a better education? Do you all recall that? Independent research from Vanderbilt University found that…
Wow, that's never happened before. So can I have, again, two people, Dale Gill to come forward and Yerby Joseph Joe Calhoun.
Yay. Okay, thank you so much. And this is from not only my colleagues, the commission, Shelby County Commission, but also DelGil. This comes with a huge heart of love for the work that you've done. This is a special resolution honoring Yerby Joseph Joe Calhoun. Whereas after relocating to Memphis in 1967, Calhoun began a lifetime dedicated to justice and equality as a student at Melrose High School. Oh my goodness. Okay. Y'all took my breath away. During the historic 1968 Memphis Sanitation Workers' Strike, he stood alongside more than 1,300 African-American sanitation workers who…
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Thank you. And I just want to say thank you for your work for Lakers Skaters as well. And so the gap is 51,000. How much has Lakers Skaters raised so far?
Okay, so I just want to say this on the record. And so, yes, we have been talking back and forth. It's not the naming of the park. It's the naming of the skateboard park. But again, as I stated two weeks ago, we're going to work it together offline and discuss the formalities, but it's only the skateboard park, not the complete park. But we have to get this clarification later on off record. And again, we have a fiscal agent that we're working through, and so we need to go through the fiscal agent. But again, we'll talk off record. Thank you. And thank you for all the work that you've done.
Commissioner Sugarman. Numbers five and six.
Yes, it came down with a fair recommendation.
Commissioner Strickland, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam chair. And so I just, I pulled this item because it's an item out of state. And it's within the three months extension and my understanding is going to go back out for bid. And I just wanted to pull it to encourage local businesses to participate in the bidding process. So many times I receive emails, texts and messages from local businesses. you know, complaining about the processes and procedures of the person department. And so I just want to make sure that I put on record that I want all local vendors Shelby County vendors, et…
Yes, Madam Chair, it came down with a favorable recommendation. Okay, thank you. You're recognized. Thank you. So once again, I just wanted to point out, again, this is a three-month extension, and this item will go out for bid again. And even though this is a company that's located in Tennessee, it's not Shelby County. And I've had a couple of vendors to reach out to me, and so please get in the pool and, you know, Hopefully, you know a local vendor when the bid again, but you can't win if you don't participate So please participate in the process and again if you have any issues concerns…
Commissioner Sugarman, you're recognized. Thank you. And so madam chair, I need some clarification or understanding because I passed around exhibit a, which was the original schedule that was put in on base. And then exhibit B, which was a substitute of Wednesday. And so I'm just trying to get understanding because the dates in red, for example, as you mentioned, October... June and August were additional dates. But if you look on the original, those dates were already there. So I'm trying to understand what's the difference between the original and the substitute. They were both on base.
Well, that's incorrect and on base because on, on the base exhibit a already had those dates. Then also my concern is you look at exhibit C and that was the calendar from last year. During January, February, March, April, May, and June, there are two meetings and those are necessary and essential because those are the times that we have budgetary meetings. And so if you look at the one you just submitted, it does not rectify the situation. And I just want to put on notice to the public and to my colleagues that typically we have two meetings in January, two meetings in February, two meetings…
Commissioner Sugarman? Thank you. And so I'm very aware of the budget hearings, which are separate. I'm talking about commission meetings. And in January, there's, according to this just passed out, there's one in February, one in January. And so, again, there is a difference. Having said that, I'm done. I just want to make sure I said this on public record, that in January through June, If you look at Exhibit C that I passed out, there were two from January to June. Thank you.
Commissioner Sugarman? Thank you so much, madam chair and so I just want to say that she went to court judge talk sugar is my brother. However, there is no conflict of interest so therefore be voting on this item, thank you.
Thank you. And so first, I just want to say congratulations to Chair Avent and Vice Chair Brooks. Look forward to working with you. And we have a town hall meeting. It's going to be the 17th at 7 p.m. at Cableville United Methodist Church, and that's on Riverdale. And so I just want to also extend the invitation to individuals and H. O. A. S. Etc. This is your opportunity to talk about the rezoning to talk with the sheriff's department roads as well as the sheriff's department. Again, this is going to be the 17th at seven p.m. And I look forward to hearing your ideas, concerns and issues.…
Thank you, Madam Chair. So I just have a few questions. I was going through the documents and this was out for bid, is that correct?
Okay. And so I guess this is maybe a question for the purchasing department because I was going through here and I did not see a scorecard.
Okay. And so a question for Parliamentary. Isn't it part of our rules that the scorecards be in our system so we can look at it for ourselves? And the next question, there were any nonresponsive... Were there any non-responsive vendors? I guess that's for the purchasing department. Is there anybody from purchasing here?
Okay. And whose responsibility is it to put in Granicus or on board, on base, the scorecards and all the documents necessary?
Okay. Can you please provide that for all the commissioners?
Okay. Thank you. I see it now. Okay. And so the next question, is there an urgency? I'm just wondering, okay, as far as the contract goes, is there a sense of urgency? And if so, what is that urgency?