Worcester pulls towing request after controversy with NFL player
Last month, the City of Worcester was getting ready to solicit bids for a new wave of police towing contracts to begin in January, with the current set issued in 2010 set to expire. But the Purchasing Department quickly did an about-face, opting instead to negotiate with existing contractors for another year before issued a new request-for-proposals.
Is NFL player's business at issue?
The reason, according to City Manager Edward Augustus, was controversy stemming from a newly-formed company, Patriots Service Center and Auto Towing Inc., founded in October by former New England Patriots defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth III. There are concerns that Haynesworth has ties to Pat's Towing, a former city contractor that was the subject of a criminal investigation two years ago.
Augustus was careful not to call out Haynesworth or the new company, and declined to speculate directly about the rumors, but he said the city is eager to do business only with responsible contractors; in 2013, the city terminated its contract with Pat's Towing after criminal assault charges were filed against employees of the company. Pat's sought an injunction, but it was denied by a federal judge.
“I'm saying this in affirmative way. What I want to do is make sure that anybody we do business with is a responsible contractor,” Augustus said.
How do the contracts work?
There are 10 towing zones in the city, and each is bid separately. Those amounts are negotiable. Annual contract values in 2015 range from $5,300 to about $50,000, with towing companies paying a flat fee to the city in exchange for towing rights. Companies are paid $90 per tow.
According to Augustus, neither Patriots Service Center and Auto Towing nor any other contractor had submitted a bid when the Purchasing Department canceled the RFP. He also said he had no knowledge about Haynesworth, or his newly-formed company, until controversy started to brew. Typically, Augustus said he's not involved at all in bidding as the Purchasing Department generally oversees it.
What is Haynesworth's legacy?
No one with ties to Haynesworth's company was available for comment at the phone number listed for the business address, 9 Casco St. in Worcester, last week. In 2011, Haynesworth played a short stint as a defensive tackle with the New England Patriots after being traded by the Washington Redskins but was terminated after about three months. According to numerous media reports, Haynesworth had a reputation for being difficult to work with, during his time with Patriots as well as other teams. Today, Haynesworth lives in Petersham, according to incorporation documents filed with the Secretary of State's office.
WBJ Web Partners
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments