As promised, Bruce at mASSBACKWARDS has continued his insider’s view of the Big Dig.
Introduction
Volume 1
Volume 2
Volume 3
Now, obviously Bruce and I don’t have much in common politically. No matter. This is everyone’s fight. He’s bringing a valuable perspective to the whole thing:
The FIRST thing that should be looked as these investigations start topick up steam are these field inspection reports. Was the work properlyinspected and documented? Was the person signing off on theseinspection reports qualified to do so? Were corrective actions taken ifdeficiencies in the work were noted?
These are the questionsofficials SHOULD be focusing on. Let’s put an end to the fingerpointing, pull these inspection records, and get some friggin’ answersalready. The taxpayers deserve nothing less that complete disclosure ofall project records pertaining to this defective work.
Amen to that. And all construction projects should have vigorous oversight and transparency from Day One. Again: we need a powerful Public Works Oversight Committee for all construction in the state: tough, independent, smart, with all manner of investigative powers. I refuse to accept that it’s impossible to do construction projects correctly, on time and on budget in this state.
I never understood why Tom Reilly withdrew lawsuits against Bschtel et.al. Litigation process works well for recovery, and the threat of a approaching trial date, after much discovery exchanged, forces real settlement discussions. These companies have insurance, and even though the “independent management team” was actually manageing themselves, they still owed a duty to the state and are responsible of the subpar performance. Civil litigation system, although slow, works in cases like this. If tom reilly has criminal investigation going lets hear about it, but criminal inverstigation isn’t going to get money back or fix problem.Lets put Bechtel et al in bankruptcy if we have to. Of course we have to prove they screwed up, but from all the talk it appears we can.
Bechtel ain’t going bankrupt, even if TR got every misspent dollar back. Parsons Brinkerhoff maybe, but definately not Bechtel.I think there’s a more important issue than getting Big Dig money back. The more important issue in my mind is determining what changes in policy and structure must be made to avoid those management mistakes in the future. Ultimately, that’s what will allow MA to make the case for big projects in the future.
stomv, the policy change you r wondering about is simple. Do not pay a contractor to do the work and then pay him again to be the independent mangager of his own job. That is what hapened here and that turned into the problem.Don’t you believe the taxpayers have a right to recoup what was lost. Besides in litigationn there is subpeona power, so that brings out facts. Not a blue ribbon panel. We are on same page just that my experience tells me the better way to go about it.