[Regarding the Department of Administration's advertisement in the Providence Journal, October 20, 1998, page E-11]
Operation Clean Government (OCG) asks "Why is the Department of Administration requesting bids for the lease/purchase or building of a facility for the Administrative Adjudication Court (AAC) when there has been no answer as to the feasibility of buying the Harris Avenue building for one dollar or renovating an unused state owned building at the Howard complex or at any other state owned location?" OCG's chairman, Robert P. Arruda states, "there are grave concerns over the state's rush to go on a premature real estate spending spree. Why now before the subcommittee of the Task Force reports back to the full Task Force with its study of the two options listed above? Why now before the General Assembly determines the courts final configuration?"
OCG's Bruce Lang said, "obtaining a building before determining the future of the AAC system literally defines the expression 'putting the cart before the horse.' We have no idea how big or small the system will be, if it will be centralized or decentralized (maybe there will be multiple locations and therefore smaller physical quarters needed). It actually would be STUPID and totally irresponsible to obtain a building before these decisions are made. OCG would like to know the names of the people who endorse the idea of buying or building a new facility."
In February 1997, Governor Almond and Chief Justice Joseph R. Weisberger announced a plan to move the AAC into the Howard Complex. They stated that the earliest date for the move would be the summer of 1998 at a cost of $6 to $8 million. To finance the move, the state would use certificates of participation with most of the obligations being met by using the $280,000 a year that is now being paid to rent the Harris Avenue facility. Governor Almond stated that this plan was consistent with his administration's goal to move state operations out of leased buildings and into state-owned property. That's a financially responsible idea, but what has happened to this plan? OCG calls on the Governor and Chief Justice to say why the Howard Complex building is no longer under consideration.
Additionally, the Harris Avenue facility has been offered to the state for one dollar. On the surface this seems like a very attractive offer. This facility has been recently wired at the state's expense for the new computer system. While there is the problem of handicap accessibility, this would not be a problem had the state insisted that the owners rehabilitate the building to make it handicap accessible, as the owners had agreed to do in leases signed in 1982 and 1985. "Why is the state always asleep at the switch?" asks OCG's William Clay. "There had been talk that the Harris Avenue building is too small for the AAC operations; however, some of these operations have already been moved to the Department of Motor Vehicles."
The Task Force, chaired by Chief Justice Weisberger, has not met since August. It is awaiting the reports from its subcommittees that were formed to study and report back to the full committee with their recommendations. To advertise for bids now to lease/purchase a new building is premature to say the least.
Operation Clean Government holds accountable those whom the citizenry entrust with the stewardship of their state government. Transparency in government and the citizen's access to their government are essential to a healthy democracy. OCG advocates strong democratic laws and institutions that instill public confidence that common policies are fairly debated and decided on the merits, and that common resources are used responsibly.
The next monthly meeting of the OCG Board of Directors is
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