11162017 - News Article - Portage ends 'lavish' leases for mayor, economic develop director vehicles

Portage ends 'lavish' leases for mayor, economic develop director vehicles
NWI Times
Nov 16, 2017
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/portage-ends-lavish-leases-for-mayor-economic-develop-director-vehicles/article_b795f9bb-096d-55d9-a0e1-2256018916ec.html

PORTAGE — Mayor James Snyder and the city's economic development director are going to be downsizing the city vehicles they drive after a decision to end leases on a 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe and 2016 Ford Expedition.

The Utility Services Board last week approved terminating both leases. Snyder, in an email to city officials Thursday morning, said the two vehicles are parked and ready to be picked up by the leasing company. When contacted Thursday, Snyder declined further comment.

The issue of the leased vehicles has been debated by city officials for some time, but last week at a USB meeting, Chairman Mark Oprisko motioned for Snyder to "send back" the two vehicles to the leasing company.

"The cost of the vehicles is so lavish," Oprisko said Thursday, adding he brought up the issue because "enough is enough" and the USB has been trying to get things in order since the City Council took it over in March from Snyder's leadership.

The USB has been paying $3,624 per month for the lease of the Tahoe, two Expeditions and two Ford Explorers. The Tahoe, which Snyder drove, cost $860 per month; the Expeditions were $750 per month and the Explorers $470 per month, according to city records. The second Expedition was driven by the former city administrator and the two Explorers are driven by USB superintendents.

Clerk-treasurer Chris Stidham confirmed the cars had been parked Thursday and said he has contacted the leasing company to pick them up.

Stidham said that doesn't mean Snyder and Economic Development Director Andy Maletta, who drove one of the Expeditions, won't be driving city-owned or -leased vehicles. After meeting with Snyder on Thursday afternoon, Stidham said replacement vehicles will be acquired. He is uncertain if they will be purchased or leased.

"No one is saying they shouldn't have vehicles, but they should be appropriate vehicles," said Stidham.

Stidham said the Expedition driven by the former city administrator, who resigned in February, had been sitting in the city hall parking lot until last month when the USB terminated the lease. The lease termination cost the USB about $5,000, he said, adding terminating the lease early and paying the cost was less expensive than continuing the lease. There were four years left on the leases.











Mayor defends Portage SUV purchases
Chicago Tribune
December 28, 2017
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-ptb-portage-snyder-suv-st-1229-20171228-story.html
The Portage Board of Works approved the purchase of two new sports utility vehicles from a local auto dealership Wednesday, but the move fell flat for Common Council President Mark Oprisko and others at City Hall.

The board approved buying two 2018 Ford Explorers from Lakeshore Ford, in Burns Harbor, for $65,786, pending legal review by the city attorney. The move came after Oprisko used a travel policy passed by the city council in October to strip Mayor James Snyder and Economic Development Director Andy Maletta of their city-owned SUVs last month.

During the meeting, Clerk-Treasurer Chris Stidham, who has announced his intention to run for mayor in 2019, asked about the process city officials used in securing the quotes from Lakeshore.

According to Stidham, any quotes should've been received by city officials by Dec. 15. The Lakeshore quote had a handwritten receipt date of Dec. 12, but there was no date of receipt on a quote from Connor's Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, in Chesterton, which quoted two similar vehicles at $68,794.

Also, City Hall sources and Oprisko insisted Snyder has been using the Ford Explorer officially purchased Wednesday "for at least two weeks," and Oprisko complained Snyder has offered "zero communication" with the council on big ticket purchases, such as buying the vehicles.

Snyder called his critics' comments "senseless," and he insisted he has been using a number of city-owned vehicles and "loaner cars," including a newer model, while Ford Explorer owned by the parks department.

Snyder had leased a 2016 Chevy Tahoe for about $866 a month, while Maletta's leased 2016 Ford Expedition ran about $750 a month, officials said.

When asked if Wednesday's board purchase needed to be approved by the city council, Snyder said, "This board (of Works) purchases vehicles all the time."