Official criticizes computer purchase

The controller implied a double standard exists.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MERCER, Pa. -- Mercer County Controller Tom Amundsen criticized commissioners at their chief clerk's meeting Tuesday for buying six new computers when 38 used ones became available from another county office just a few days later.
After checking records later Tuesday, however, Commissioner Olivia Lazor said there is no way commissioners could have known the used computers would be available. The news that the state had awarded a grant to purchase new computers for the county's Children and Youth Services Department did not reach the courthouse until the commissioners' new computers had been installed.
Amundsen said commissioners ordered six computers Jan. 24 from Gateway for $7,975. Six days later, CYS received 38 new computers through an $82,000 state grant. This freed up 38 3-year-old computers from CYS for redistribution around county offices.
Lazor said the new computers were delivered to commissioners and installed Feb. 2-3, but the invoice for purchase of the new CYS computers did not arrive at the courthouse until Feb. 9.
No sure thing
She said she was aware a grant application had been submitted several months ago, but that these grants are not a sure thing, and in the past, they have been awarded as late as May.
Amundsen also asked why commissioners did not have to submit a capital request form for the computer purchase to be voted on in a public meeting, a requirement for other offices. He asked whether there is a double standard.
He said his own office tried to get new computers last year and he was told to make a capital improvements' request. He added that last year the county jail was also having trouble with its computers but was not permitted by commissioners to buy new ones.
Lazor and Commissioner Michele Brooks said if they had known the CYS computers were available, they would not have purchased the new ones.
Troubles downloading
Commissioner Brian Beader said he refused a new computer because he didn't think he needed it. Beader's assistant, as well as the other two commissioners and their assistants and the chief clerk each got one.
Brooks and Lazor said they had problems with their old computers, especially with repeated crashes when they tried to download state documents
Lazor said the older computers have been a headache for at least 18 months.
She said the new computers were the first new ones the commissioners received in the 18 years she has been in office.
Lazor also said that to Amundsen "it may look like a double standard, but we are management." She added that because it is the commissioners who approve capital improvements requests, requests from other departments are different from those of commissioners themselves.
She said the jail will receive 15 of the 38 used computers, and the others will be distributed to other county offices in need of them.