Criscuolo Forced To Lower Prices

Sections

Neighborhoods

Features

NHI Newsletter

Legal Notices

Some Favorite Sites

Government/ Community Links

by Melissa Bailey | May 20, 2009 11:13 am

(10) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author

Posted to: City Hall

The city’s top-grossing marshal will have to drop his fees, because of competing bids that came in under the city’s newly reformed marshal process.

Peter Criscuolo (pictured) was one of seven marshals to submit bids by Tuesday’s deadline in a new process for city-related marshal work. The new process seeks to drive down the hefty fees that taxpayers have to pay when a marshal slaps them with a city foreclosure suit or serves them a tax warrant: Click here for background.

The new bidding process, spurred by a proposal by Hill Alderman Jorge Perez, will definitely save the city money, said city purchasing agent Mike Fumiatti. He wouldn’t say how much, because he hasn’t crunched the numbers yet.

The new process requires marshals to give their best offer, instead of automatically charging the maximum fee allowed by the state, for a number of tasks.

Criscuolo remains the highest-grossing marshal doing city-related work. Last year, he took in over $234,000 in gross income from serving city tax warrants and from law firms who do foreclosure work with the city, according to his latest income filing. That figure was three times what any other marshal made on city-related work.

As the city floated reforms to the marshal process, Criscuolo maintained that he would continue charging the statutory fees laid out by the state. He said he did not intend to go lower.

Then Tuesday rolled around.

Several of his competing marshals did go lower, according to Fumiatti. Some gave a percentage mark-down from the statutory fees. Fumiatti didn’t say how much lower they bid. He intends to negotiate with the list of seven marshals and will probably hold them to the lowest bid.

That means Criscuolo, and any other marshal who may have bid the maximum fees, will have to drop their prices if they want to keep working with the city.

“I will have to negotiate with the other marshals who bid lower, I guess,” said Criscuolo. He described the development as a historical first.

“I’ve been doing business 25 years with the city,” said Criscuolo. “This is the first
time in the history of the marshals and sheriffs that we’ve had to do this.”

The city’s new RFP process is modeled after one introduced by the city Housing Authority.

The new bidding process drew one new marshal to the table. Of the seven marshals who responded, six have done work with the city before: Susan Voigt, Jerry Juliano, Nick Balletto, James Morrissey, William Nolan and Peter Criscuolo.

The seventh, Robert Miller, hasn’t worked directly with the city, but he’s not a new face: He currently serves foreclosure writs for the city Housing Authority.

Though the RFPs didn’t draw much new blood to the process, Fumiatti said the reforms would definitely make an impact.

“It’s all about saving money for the constituency,” he said.

Comments

posted by: jeffreykerekes on May 20, 2009 11:33am

This is certainly an improvement. I have said before that the City should start having security officers in addition to police officers. When I made a recent report to the police about a man beating his child in his car, NHPD sent 2 cops to my house for a report. Why not have security officers come and take the report? They could also respond to other incidents when the perpetrators are long gone such as thefts etc… These security personnel could also serve the documents that the Marshals are serving and the city could earn these fees to increase revenues. With Criscuolo earning $234,000, what is the total of all the marshals? Why not take these hundreds of thousands of dollars to increase city revenues?

posted by: cba on May 20, 2009 1:11pm

There was a comment that ” I will have to to negotiate with the other marshals who bid lower” from Mr. Criscuolo. What does this mean ? Is there to some form of restriction of competitive pricing for the bidding? I believe further explanation is required before any award is made.

posted by: Streever on May 20, 2009 2:41pm

“I will have to negotiate with the other marshals who bid lower, I guess,” said Criscuolo. He described the development as a historical first.

Criscuolo,
I’m not going to tell you the law
but if that’s not illegal, I don’t know what it is

I was contacted by the City to provide a bid for a website
I guarantee you if I said, “Sure, who else is bidding? I’ll call them & we’ll fix the prices” I’d be in a lot of trouble.

I can’t believe you’d say that man!

Perez: GREAT work. This is much needed & a huge improvement.

posted by: Streever on May 20, 2009 2:46pm

Criscuolo you have to clarify your statement. What precisely did you mean when you said you’d talk to the other marshals about their bids? Can you please, please, please explain that. What are you going to do? Ask them to raise their bid?

posted by: iBlogWestHartford on May 20, 2009 4:20pm

I’m sorry.

I don’t understand why this “marshal” profession described in the article exists.

I know from movies that towns in the Old West had “Town Marshals.” They were just like sheriffs - or police chiefs.

I know about Federal Air Marshals. They prevent skyjackings.

And I know that Hitler made Hermann G√∂ring a “Reich Marshal.” That was some real crazy stuff.

But the marshals you describe seem like fictional characters created for some baaaaaad Pamela Anderson/Hulk Hogan made-for-TV bounty-hunter movie.

Or glorified bouncers.

No need for a debate. Eliminate the profession. Entirely. Give the responsibilities to the appropriate government employees.

Then move on to the tougher problems.

posted by: Charlie O'Keefe on May 20, 2009 8:59pm

This stinks. The marshall that put in the low bid should get the work. End of Story. Looks like the Mayor will get the work for his chief fund raiser anyhow.

posted by: Streever on May 20, 2009 9:14pm

In total agreement, WestHartford.

While we’re at it, let’s see this arrogant man in some trouble—just because you raise $$$ for the democrats doesn’t entitle you to 234k a year. I imagine most people would take that deal—234k in exchange for what, 20k in donations? How much? How much $$$ does one have to donate to get 234k?

We have Gateway terminal paying a 20th the taxes they owe—and donating to the Mayor—we have this clown making 234k and offering to bid rig to reporters and donating to the Mayor—

sorry John, this stinks, & you know it man.

posted by: Jacki on May 21, 2009 10:19am

Did Criscuolo mean that he was going to threaten the other marshalls to raise their rates? I want to know *exactly* what he says to the other marshalls.

posted by: Streever on May 21, 2009 12:23pm

Jacki:
Threaten or not, if two contractors come to an agreement on their bids, that’s a clear example of bid rigging, and a violation of Sherman Anti-trust laws. It’s a pretty serious offense. Criscuolo should know better with his position, &, it’s awful that he’d be so uninformed as to how to serve.

I take any thing I do for the City very seriously. When I was appointed to BZA, I went through everything they gave me, & even asked City Staff & our Chair specific questions about my relationships to specific people in the City to ensure I had no conflict of interest. I informed myself & educated myself—so that I could volunteer for a 4 hour meeting a month, and 10-15 hours of site visits, research, reading, & learning. I put in about 24 hours a month for free as a Zoning Board member, because it’s a responsibility, and it’s important that the public be involved.

It’s really disappointing to me that this individual doesn’t even understand that the work he is doing has a very real cost to the people of our city, & for him to work in conspiracy to raise the prices, is ... an abuse of his power & position.

posted by: VoiceOfReason on May 26, 2009 7:42am

My guess is that the City has done something improper. State marshals are governed by state statute, i don’t know how the City can mettle.

this “procurement” is a bit of a joke and a waste of city employee time. i want them to save the city money.

i could care less about the scofflaws.

New Haven Independent

New Haven Independent Login Form