Sir Speedy's "Reply to Charges of No Bid Contracts".

Editor:



You can tell it's election season in New Britain. The mudslinging is thick. There has been an accusation that, as alderman, I have received special treatment when bidding city printing work.



My wife Maria and I risked and invested our family savings in starting a printing company, Sir Speedy Printing Center, in 1988. Although the franchiser wanted us to locate in Hartford we decided to start our business in our hometown; downtown New Britain.



We have been on the New Britain city bid list since 1988. This means Mayors McNamara, DeFronzo, Blogolawski, Pawlak and Stewart have been in office during this time.



June 2003 we decided to sell our business. Sir Speedy continued to do business with the City and remained on the City bid list.



In late 2004 we were informed by the new owner that he was closing the doors. We decided to buy back the business.



I was a democrat alderman from 1993-2003 and decided not to run for re-election in November 2003, the year Mayor Stewart won as Mayor.



When I repurchased the business in late 2004 I was still a democrat and was not on the City Council.



I was asked by Mayor Stewart to come out of political retirement and run for the City Council November 2005. I accepted and also changed political parties. I was reelected.



I never asked Mayor Stewart to steer city work to my business. To avoid the appearance of conflict our store manager has ALWAYS handled City bid work. He quotes the jobs and, if the lowest bid, the City awards us the printing order.



I never asked department heads or city employees to steer city work to my business.



To our knowledge the Mayor has never been involved with any bids we have submitted.



We have NEVER split orders to get under $3000. According to my store manager the City bids out printing well below the $3000 threshold. Numerous departments bid out printing when they deem it necessary. There is no contract for printing.



During my terms as alderman I have NEVER voted for city work being awarded to Sir Speedy Printing Center nor have I voted for changing ANY bidding procedures.



According to the list produced for the Herald of work Sir Speedy Printing Center (a) the list included the time frame I was NOT an alderman during Mayor Stewart's first term (b) included work we did for the Downtown District (a non-City agency).



There is no documentation to corroborate these wild accusations of "no bid" work being steered to my company.



This is all about the people trying to embarrass Mayor Stewart two weeks before the special election. This is, unfortunately, the underbelly of New Britain politics and is even low for New Britain standards. This is why good people choose not to get involved in politics.



I guess I should be honored. This is the same anti-business crew that (1) kicked Walmart out of New Britain (2) ridiculed the several million dollar offer made by a potential purchaser of Pinnacle Heights (3) condemned Papa's Dodge and Schaller Auto for legally asking for tax breaks to expand and bring jobs to New Britain.



As a New Britain small business owner of 20 years what am I to tell my employees? Don't bid legal, legitimate City work? Don't respond to bid requests? Don't deal with customers at the front counter that need immediate service? Don't answer the phones? Give work to our out of town competitors?



People have to ask why businesses would want to locate in New Britain. We saw what happened when an out of town company bid the Fairview Cemetery fence even though the City had a bona fide fencing company, owned by Alderman Willie Pabon, that does quality, cost effective work.



Willie Pabon chose not to bid the Fairview Cemetery work, the Aquinas work or the Police Department because of the poisoned atmosphere. Too bad. His quotes would have saved the City over $20,000 and provided jobs for New Britain residents.



So much for being "business friendly".



Mark Bernacki, Alderman

141 Oakwood Drive

New Britain CT 06052
-