If you received a copy of the July Progress you will see responses to questions about the NorthStar proposal from severl board candidates.  Tom Stauss emailed all candidates and asked our views on the proposal...I offer here my full response to Tom only a portion of which could be included in the paper...

I understand the need to make major improvements in OPA’s financial management. Currently OPA is operating with systems that are outdated, inefficient and labor intensive. There is also a need for better controls (checks and balances) that have been itemized in the “Deep Dive Audit.” The addition of any software system will only be effective if management implements the audit recommendations, develops clear and controlled purchasing policies, and holds those handling the monies of OPA accountable.

I attended the Board Meeting where the NorthStar Proposal was presented and have attended recent Budget and Finance Committee meetings where the NorthStar Proposal was discussed in considerable detail. Representatives of the TWG responded to questions from the B & F committee members, especially John Viola, the chair of the committee. The TWG representatives helped all those at the meeting have a better understanding of what the NorthStar software would accomplish and what it would cost. The bottom line as I understood it at the conclusion of the meeting was that the 6-year contract would cost essentially the same as what is being paid now annually to accomplish essentially the same tasks. However, the NorthStar system would greatly improve operations.

I attended a Board meeting where President Parks intended to have a motion considered to approve the NorthStar proposal but the motion was tabled till a future meeting. At that meeting I expressed publicly my concerns that it was very important to obtain comparative quotes from vendors on an outsourcing option. The Legum and Norman quote from over a year ago is obviously not current and does not have all the pieces included with the NorthStar proposal. The idea suggested was to see if Legum and Norman would allow OPA to purchase the software used by them for financial management but not their management services. That approach seems problematic, would any company agree to such terms, what level of training would be required to utilize the software and what support of the software would be provided. It seems a bit like buying a car without any wheels.

Therefore, it is my opinion that OPA should prepare an RFP for outsourcing that can be fairly compared to the NorthStar proposal, apples to apples. There is a lot in the NorthStar proposal that would benefit OPA. However, can OPA obtain the same quality and level of service by outsourcing to a firm like Legum and Norman, perhaps for less money? The only way to know is to ask for proposals from reliable firms that provide the services needed, and at what cost. The projected costs for NorthStar over a 6-year period are almost $1 million. Can OPA obtain a better deal from an outsourced contract, we won’t know if we don’t ask?

votestevetuttle@gmail.com check out my website at votestevetuttle.com