New Orleans - Close to 100 thousand dollars is what Danjean Builders is waiting to get paid for renovation work done for the Criminal Clerk of Court. Four months later, still no check. And now, no check for 22 thousand dollars on another government job. john Danjean says, "We finished a job for the city called the Algiers Maintenance Facility. It was a restoration repair job. We were supposed to do our job walk and they canceled it. They said all the invoices are being frozen because of some architectural firm that oversees the contracts."
A company called MWH signed a multi-million dollar contract with the city to oversee recovery projects like the Algiers Maintenance Facility restoration. A spokesperson for the city sent an email saying, "The MWH funds are being held by council, not administration."
Councilwoman Stacy Head, "Once the council allocates money through a budget ordinance, it really does become entirely the responsibility and under the control of the administration." Head says February 4th, the council passed the Capital roll-over budget for all unexpended capital funds that have come to the city -- including those listed for the Algiers Maintenance Facility. Finding it on the list attached to the budget Heads said, "We already had allocated the vast majority of the Algiers Maintenance Facility. All that was left in the recovery funds was $1,031 and we allocated that."
Head doesn't know what's causing the delay saying, "There are a lot of contractors not getting paid timely by the City of New Orleans. I don't know where the problem is. It is exclusively within the executive branch's responsibility. The council doesn't know whether it is with their contractor MWH, the accounting department, the finance department."
She does know is who it hurts. She adds, "After the small contractors get burned a few times by the city, not getting paid timely and then they are in a predicament with their vendors subcontractors and employees, they are not going to bid the next time." Danjean confirms that sentiment saying, "I think now, I think I have had enough. I can't take this lick. I think that is it for me." Less contractors bidding may mean taxpayers pay more for work done.
Late Friday, a spokesperson for the city responded to our story saying it is more complex than represented. Ceeon Quiett promises to explain the funding for capital projects, FEMA reimbursement and payments to MWH for program management costs further in the future.
