SPRINGFIELD – While Mayor Domenic Sarno’s administration has released information about city contracts and to which businesses they go, City Councilor Justin Hurst still has questions.

Hurst has filed a Public Record Request to get the answers he is seeking and has publicly asked state Rep. Bud Williams if he supports Hurst’s investigation.

Hurst recently asked for an audit to show, among other things, how many minority/women-owned businesses received contracts from the city.

According to information released by the mayor’s office, “For Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19), the city of Springfield procured contracts for purchases, supplies, and services.  Below is the breakdown: 315 city issued contracts – 40 or 12.7 percent were to minority and women owned businesses; Total expenditure of city issued contracts is over $92 million – Over $12 million or 13.1 percent expenditure to minority and women owned businesses.

Sarno said, “I am proud of my administration’s efforts in being the most diverse and reflective of our city’s population in its history.  While all city contracts must meet all legal procurement guidelines and requirements, we always strive for continued betterment.  My administration is committed to creating more and more opportunities for our Women, Veterans, and Black and Latino-owned businesses.  Working with State Representative Bud Williams, Chief Development Officer Tim Sheehan and I, through our Office of Planning and Economic Development, will announce shortly a technical assistance program for those interested in becoming certified with the state Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM).  This is so key for being able to bid and compete for this work and jobs.”  

In a response, Hurst said, “I have asked Mayor Sarno and his administration to answer four basic questions that should be accessible at the push of a button; not because I am looking to point fingers, but because I know it is impossible to thrive as a city and address the inequities that exist if we are not willing to acknowledge our own reality.”

He added, “Mayor Sarno celebrates in his press release that 12 million dollars in contracts in 2019 were awarded to 40 MBEs [minority owned businesses] and WBEs [women owned businesses], which equates to $300,000 per contract. It is important that residents know who these contracts are going to and the amount awarded to each business. These numbers don’t look as rosy if the lion’s share of the 12 million dollars is only going to a few businesses. This is precisely why I have asked for the median contract amount and percentage of MBEs and WBEs that are above and below the median.

Hurst has filed a Public Record Request last week to get more information.

The following are his detailed responses to the information supplied by the mayor’s office:

• “How many contracts for purchases, supplies and services does the city of Springfield issue in a non-covid year and what is the total dollar amount for those contracts? I am requesting all contracts entered into by the city. This request includes all School Department and consulting contracts in these numbers. Three hundred fifteen contracts totaling 92 million seems extremely low for a city this size.

• “What is the number, percentage, and dollar amount of total contracts awarded to minority owned business enterprises and women owned business enterprises in a non-covid year. While the press release did highlight that 12.7 percent of city contracts in 2019 went to minority and women-owned businesses, it is clear that the data has not been disaggregated in a meaningful way to separate the percentage of contracts going to women and the percentage of contracts going to minorities. This breakdown is critical as the city looks to set goals in the future to increase these numbers.  

• “What is the median amount of the total contracts awarded in the city of Springfield? Not answered in the mayor’s press release! What percentage of the contracts awarded to minority owned business enterprises and women owned enterprises is above the median and what percentage is below the median? Not answered in the mayor’s press release!”

Reminder Publishing reached out to Williams for a comment, but it was not forthcoming by press time.