Cleveland's MetroHealth endorses tighter policy for hiring consultants

A committee of MetroHealth trustees endorsed a tighter policy Monday for awarding consulting contracts without a competitive bid. But the board member who first raised questions about overly broad rules isn't satisfied. MetroHealth Audit Committee Chairman Bill Gaskill cancelled a vote on the policy last month after trustee John Moss objected in a letter to his colleagues."We are not improving our procurement policy," Moss wrote. "We are merely codifying and re-approving the old way of doing business and not actively promoting transparency, competition and efficiencies." The audit panel voted to remove language that lists "unique knowledge of MetroHealth or acceptance within the organization" as reasons for hiring a consultant in a non-competitive process. Moss, who attended the meeting, was unable to sway the committee entirely to his way of thinking. He objected to the policy even after the changes were added, believing they didn't go far enough.