|
 |
Landfill engineer discussion devolves into trash talk
|
| By: Mark J. Crawford, Editor |
August 30, 2007 |
|
Engineer Frank Darabi, who has worked for the board at the New River Regional Landfill since it was founded, still has a job there, though he may have to spend some time smoothing over his working relationship with landfill staff.
Darabi's future at the landfill was at stake after last month's meeting when, once again, questions were raised about engineering costs and Darabi's perceived failure to answer cost questions for board members.
Darabi recently lost a solid waste contract with Bradford County to Jones, Edmunds and Associates, who Bradford County Commissioner Eddie Lewis said would be doing the same job for the county, but for half the price.
It was Lewis who asked that the landfill board also seek qualifications from other engineering firms after he was unsuccessful in getting Darabi to answer cost-related questions.
Darabi's supporters and detractors took turns discussing his ongoing contract and work performance after Union County Commissioner Wayne Smith moved to have Darabi continue with the landfill earlier this month.
Smith, saying he had served on the board longer than anyone else, expressed full confidence in Darabi's abilities.
"As far as prices and fees are concerned, I have personally checked into billing and prices in the past and found it to be very competitive," Smith said.
Baker County Commissioner Julie Combs supported Smith's motion after clarifying that Darabi was paid a monthly retainer in lieu of submitting itemized invoices per his contract with the board.
The landfill's executive director, Darrell O'Neal, said he was frustrated that, although Darabi had helped make the landfill what it is today, their relationship is complicated by the fact that Darabi works for the board and not for him.
He also pointed out that Darabi has been with the landfill so long in part because the board has never exercised its right to seek qualifications from other engineers, and he agreed with Baker County Commissioner Mark Hartley that the board should advertise consultant positions every three years.
Board Attorney Jon Wershow, who's also enjoyed a long working relationship with the landfill board, said if the concern was compensation, the board could renegotiate with Darabi and address that without advertising for qualifications from competing engineers. Darabi, he said, has provided valuable assistance, saving the landfill "huge" amounts of money over time, and has helped make the facility one of the leading landfills in the country.
There's no doubt about the good the engineer has done, Lewis said, adding that he hasn't received documentation about certain work for which Darabi was paid.
"I've been ignored," Lewis said. If one of the directors asks a reasonable question, it should be answered, he said, because, after all, it's their necks on the line.
Lewis said not to advertise professional services like engineering on a regular basis was an "injustice," and Union County Commissioner Morris Dobbs agreed, saying there wasn't a commissioner on the board that didn't have to prove himself every four years.
Darabi apologized to Lewis, saying he hadn't understood what the commissioner was asking for. His contract-a lump sum contract-doesn't require monthly invoices, he said. The workload changes from month to month, but balances out to the contract amount by year's end.
If the board chooses to open up the position to other engineers, Darabi said his proposal would not be submitted.
"If you're going to advertise for qualifications, it means that you don't want my qualifications," he said.
It would be a "slap in the face" for the board to do anything but renegotiate with him, he added. He said he was willing to renegotiate and to work for landfill staff.
Perry Kent, the assistant landfill director, described a less-than-affable working relationship with the engineer, however, particularly since the last discussion of Darabi's position at the landfill. Kent said Darabi either ignored or bullied staff, and even made threats about action he would take if he lost his job as the landfill's engineer.
Before Kent could elaborate, O'Neal stopped him, but O'Neal himself detailed difficulties working with Darabi, including his refusal to pursue a permit from the water management district that has cost the association thousands of dollars and threatens the future ability to dispose of waste in Cell 5, the fifth disposal cell to be constructed at New River.
O'Neal said he would work with Darabi if that was the board's decision, but he said he was frustrated that the consulting engineer works directly for the board and not for staff members who are ultimately responsible for landfill operations.
From his seat, Darabi tried to refute O'Neal's account, but O'Neal insisted it was the truth, and Lewis said Darabi's comments were out of order.
The vote to keep Darabi was split 3-3, with one commissioner from each of the three member counties falling on either side of the vote. Smith, Combs and Bradford Commissioner Doyle Thomas supported the motion. Lewis, Hartley and Dobbs did not.
Although the motion failed to garner enough support to stand, it was obvious there was not enough support to request qualifications from other firms either.
|
|
©Bradford County Telegraph 2010
|
|
|
