TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF OCTOBER 3, 2019
COMMITTEE ON PROCUREMENT
Mr. Brian Perkovich, Executive Director
Title
Authorization to exercise an option to extend an agreement for one year, for professional legal services, with Valentine Austriaco & Bueschel, P.C. to represent and counsel the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago in connection with bankruptcy and collection matters, Account 101-30000-612430, Purchase Order 3097549 (Deferred from the September 19, 2019 Board Meeting)
Body
Dear Sir:
At the Board meeting of December 7, 2017, the Board of Commissioners authorized the Director of Procurement and Materials Management to enter into an agreement with Valentine Austriaco & Bueschel, P.C. (“Valentine”) for professional legal services in the amount not to exceed $50,000.00. Valentine provides the District with legal counsel on bankruptcy and collection matters. The agreement is for a two-year period with an option to extend for an additional one-year period. The current contract ends on December 31, 2019. It is recommended that the agreement be extended one year to December 31, 2020. No additional funds are being requested for this extension period.
Bankruptcy counsel is needed in the event the District requires representation in any of these matters beyond the basic filing of a proof of claim and monitoring the case to see if any funds are disbursed to pay unsecured pre-petition creditors. The District has seven pending bankruptcy matters in which the District is a named creditor due to unpaid User Charges. Four are in Illinois and three are in other state’s jurisdictions (Delaware and New York.
This change order is in compliance with the Illinois Criminal Code because it is germane to the original contract, and is in the best interest of the District.
Accordingly, it is requested that the Board of Commissioners authorize the Director of Procurement and Materials Management to extend the agreement with Valentine Austriaco & Bueschel, P.C. for one additional year.
No additional funds are requested for this extension. Funds available in Account 101-30000-612430 are contingent on the Board of Commissioners’ approval of the District’s budget for 2020.
Requested, Susan T. Morakalis, General Counsel, STM:CMM:PS:CN:nm
Recommended, Darlene A. LoCascio, Director of Procurement and Materials Management
Respectfully Submitted, Barbara J. McGowan, Chairman Committee on Procurement
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for October 3, 2019