File #: Res 0751-2003    Version: * Name: MTA to utilize its in-house employees for design, engineering and other major initiatives.
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Transportation
On agenda: 3/12/2003
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to utilize its in-house employees for design, engineering and other major initiatives rather than rely on outside consultants.
Sponsors: John C. Liu, Charles Barron, Yvette D. Clarke, Leroy G. Comrie, Jr., Alan J. Gerson, Allan W. Jennings, Jr., G. Oliver Koppell, Margarita Lopez, Miguel Martinez, Hiram Monserrate, Michael C. Nelson, Christine C. Quinn, James Sanders, Jr., Larry B. Seabrook, Jose M. Serrano, Kendall Stewart, Albert Vann, Gale A. Brewer
Council Member Sponsors: 18
Res. No. 751 Title Resolution calling on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to utilize its in-house employees for design, engineering and other major initiatives rather than rely on outside consultants. Body By Council Members Liu, Barron, Clarke, Comrie, Gerson, Jennings, Koppell, Lopez, Martinez, Monserrate, Nelson, Quinn, Sanders, Seabrook, Serrano, Stewart, Vann and Brewer Whereas, The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), like many other public agencies, faces a large budget deficit in 2003; and Whereas, Any measures that the MTA can take that would cut costs without cutting services should be adopted immediately; and Whereas, As an example, the MTA often relies on outside consultants to conduct design and engineering studies; and Whereas, According to representatives of the Civil Service Technical Guild, Local 375, DC 37 (Local 375), engaging and contracting work out of the agency to consultants requires costly administration and supervision by MTA staff and can cost an additional 20 to 30 percent more than utilizing in-house employees to do the same quality work; and Whereas, Many MTA employees have institutional knowledge of MTA operations and projects, in addition to valuable professional skills; and Whereas, An example of the work performed by MTA employees is in lower Manhattan, where they reconstructed the 1/9 subway tracks that were destroyed in the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001; and Whereas, The planning, design and supervision of this massive undertaking was done largely by in-house MTA engineers, members of Local 375, for less money and in less time than the MTA originally estimated; and Whereas, The MTA is undergoing a period of "restructuring" in order to streamline its staff operations; and Whereas, The MTA should avoid expensive and time-consuming contracting-out in its streamlined form, now, therefore, be it, Resolved, that the Council of the city of New York calls on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to utilize its in-house employees for design, engineering and other major initiatives rather than rely on outside consultants. LS #2047 APB