The Belen City Council voted 4-1 on Monday night to approve a change order that had sparked pointed questions about the process used to approve change orders.

According to Molzen-Corbin & Associates, the city’s engineer and project manager, the change order for $16,000 worth of work at Belen Alexander Municipal airport had been verbally approved by the former city manager, but there were no record of the approval.

In the meantime, based on the former city manager’s approval, the work in the change order was completed.

When it came time to pay for it under the new administration, the city’s finance director refused, wanting to either see documented approval or receive approval from the city council.

On Monday night, the city council voted 3-1 to approve the change order, understanding that the city would pay less than $400 of the $16,000, with the rest paid through a grant match.

While voting in favor of the change order, Councilor Lorenzo Carrillo expressed deep concern about the approval process for change orders.

Councilor Jerah R. Cordova voted against the payment, wanting to see records approving the work.

Mayor Rudy Jaramillo vowed all change orders would be brought to the city council to be approved.

This page was published on June 24, 2010 at 12:51pm and is filed under Contracts, Infrastructure.