Department of Housing & Urban Development investigates “procedural violations”.
Newark officials soon will provide more information to the Columbus Field Office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development about bidding procedures used for the demolition of two buildings on South Third Street.
Earlier this year, resident Rhonda Loomis alleged the city failed to publicly bid the demolition of 37 and 41 S. Third St. by placing it in The Advocate. Instead, certain contractors were invited to bid on the project. Loomis said the procedure violated HUD regulations and the city charter.
City officials disagree and said they followed acceptable procedures. Law Director Doug Sassen has since said it did not violate the city charter because the charter allows bidding to be bypassed for “professional services.”
But Loomis forwarded her complaint to HUD, and May 10 it asked the city to send a response directly to Loomis.
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