Reposting a recording of Keith Gargus speaking about Coatesville’s financial software

At the time of the original posting there was not much interest. I think that has changed.

TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2009

Below are two recordings from last nights Coatesville City Council Meeting.

Coatesville resident Keith Gargus addressed the Coatesville City Council at the Monday March 23, 2009 meeting during the “Citizen’s Comments” period.

Keith Gargus worked for a large corporation selling software to different levels of government mostly to Federal (FBI, ATF) and also State and Cities.

Below is my transcription of the comments of Keith Gargus. I sometimes make mistakes in transcription so listen along:

“It was common knowledge both on the government side and the sales side that three years software was an end-run against open bids and it was also a sucker play basically, usually unethical. I am not saying that happened here but no one has disproved it or explained how they came to the determination to pick this particular software and in particular, this particular deal. 

Secondly:

It isn' free because I think there is a number, either $8,700.00 or $7,800.00 for training. So it’s not free. And that same thing training; no one talked about who is getting trained, but I suspect that the consultants are being trained. And what happens when you train a consultant, he becomes a friend, he’s the person you work with. In essence he becomes indispensable and he becomes an employee. So whether you like it or not or you had any intention you are going to have a hard time getting rid of the person in a year. 

Next:

One of the really uncertain things is the fact that you are not you are not going to enter the cities finances and full system simultaneously. What that’s going to do is basically everything is going to be in this new system. If you decide you don’t like it or you decide to go back to the old system you’re not going to be able to. 

There are a lot of things that you need to consider here before you go very much further. If this system is not what you want. The other thing is, that disturbed me is he (Mr. McKensie) admitted or I think, one of the city council people brought it up; that the statements looked exactly like the old system from three years ago that we abandoned. Well it likely is the same system and again I’d welcome the administration to refute what I am saying. 

The last thing that I want to say is: I am very disturbed about the fact that our financial consultant is making a financial consultant’s wage, what ever that is, and no one will tell us. But I suspect that after talking to current software people it’s probably the equivalent to about three quarters of a year salary. So you have to make the determination that do you want this guy at this consultant fee indefinitely while maintaining our financial officer to stay home at $80,000 or do you want .. And I welcome someone to refute me."

Notice that Mr. Gargus did not use the word "refudiate" it hadn't been "invented" yet! Sorry, I couldn't help it.

I also attached a recording of The City of Coatesville’s Financial Consultant Donald McKensie. The City of Coatesville’s Financial Consultant is presenting February and January’s expense and quarterly budget and year to date budget. The other voice is that of Coatesville City Manager Harry G Walker. The city council members received a document to follow along. There were no questions asked.

CLICK HERE FOR A SOUND RECORDING:
http://www.box.net/shared/pozfd5qy5c