Senate releasing contract list online
BY ROBERT SWIFT
HARRISBURG BUREAU CHIEF
The [Scranton] Times-Tribune
HARRISBURG - The state Senate has released a list of 66 contracts and leases that will be posted soon on the Treasury contracts Web site to comply with the state open-records law.
The taxpayer-funded contracts fall under the requirements for state and legislative agencies to post contracts for public review on the Web site established one year ago.
But Senate officials have said computer problems prevented them from posting the contracts on the list. They hope to resolve technical issues so the contracts can be posted within a matter of days.
Several contracts on the list are connected to Senate Minority Leader Robert Mellow, D-22, Peckville.
James Moran, a member of the Lackawanna County Multi-Purpose Stadium Authority, has a one-year, $39,999 Senate contract through April 30, 2010. Mr. Moran had a $40,000 "consultant" contract with Mr. Mellow in 2006, according to a Senate document from that period.
Lisa Scullin, spokeswoman for Mr. Mellow, declined to comment Thursday on what Mr. Moran does to be paid. Mr. Moran couldn't be reached for comment Thursday.
The Times-Tribune has requested a copy of the Moran contract from the Senate chief clerk's office.
The list also includes the $30,000 contract awarded in fiscal 2008-09 to Edward Mitchell, a Wilkes-Barre-based political consultant, to provide public relations advice to Mr. Mellow, as well as the Ibis Realty Inc. lease charging rent until 2014 on Mr. Mellow's district office at 524 Main St., Peckville.
Meanwhile, Patrick J. Solano, a Luzerne County resident who has worked for Republican governors dating back 40 years, had a $24,000 Senate contract that expired June 30. Information on that contract wasn't available Thursday.
Mr. Solano had a $10,000 contract in 2006 to provide advice on environmental issues to former Senate Majority Leader David Brightbill, R-Lebanon, according to a Senate document.
Under the open-records law, contracts worth more than $5,000 that have been awarded since July 1, 2008, are to be posted on the Web site. Exceptions are allowed for some contracts covering privileged attorney-client information.
HARRISBURG BUREAU CHIEF
The [Scranton] Times-Tribune
HARRISBURG - The state Senate has released a list of 66 contracts and leases that will be posted soon on the Treasury contracts Web site to comply with the state open-records law.
The taxpayer-funded contracts fall under the requirements for state and legislative agencies to post contracts for public review on the Web site established one year ago.
But Senate officials have said computer problems prevented them from posting the contracts on the list. They hope to resolve technical issues so the contracts can be posted within a matter of days.
Several contracts on the list are connected to Senate Minority Leader Robert Mellow, D-22, Peckville.
James Moran, a member of the Lackawanna County Multi-Purpose Stadium Authority, has a one-year, $39,999 Senate contract through April 30, 2010. Mr. Moran had a $40,000 "consultant" contract with Mr. Mellow in 2006, according to a Senate document from that period.
Lisa Scullin, spokeswoman for Mr. Mellow, declined to comment Thursday on what Mr. Moran does to be paid. Mr. Moran couldn't be reached for comment Thursday.
The Times-Tribune has requested a copy of the Moran contract from the Senate chief clerk's office.
The list also includes the $30,000 contract awarded in fiscal 2008-09 to Edward Mitchell, a Wilkes-Barre-based political consultant, to provide public relations advice to Mr. Mellow, as well as the Ibis Realty Inc. lease charging rent until 2014 on Mr. Mellow's district office at 524 Main St., Peckville.
Meanwhile, Patrick J. Solano, a Luzerne County resident who has worked for Republican governors dating back 40 years, had a $24,000 Senate contract that expired June 30. Information on that contract wasn't available Thursday.
Mr. Solano had a $10,000 contract in 2006 to provide advice on environmental issues to former Senate Majority Leader David Brightbill, R-Lebanon, according to a Senate document.
Under the open-records law, contracts worth more than $5,000 that have been awarded since July 1, 2008, are to be posted on the Web site. Exceptions are allowed for some contracts covering privileged attorney-client information.
