Bid Invitation for Seal and Stripe of Parking Lot at College View Manor in North East

The Housing Authority of the County of Erie will receive sealed bids for Seal and Stripe Parking Lot at College View Manor, 65 N. Pearl Street, North East, PA 16428. Please refer to our website: www.eriecountyhousing.org for complete details of the Invitation for Bids.

Bids will be received until 2:00 p.m. on June 24, 2015 at the Authority offices, 120 S. Center St., P.O. Box 38, Corry, Pa., at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. Specifications may be obtained by depositing $25.00, for each set, at the Housing Authority office, 120 S. Center St., Corry, PA 16407. Michael McNierney Executive Director

Editor's note: Although this public notice includes an internet link for details, the actual specifications are only available in print for $25.00.

Specifications may be obtained by depositing $25.00, for each set, with the Housing Authority of the County of Erie, 120 South Center Street, Corry, PA 16407. Such deposit will be refunded if a bona fide bid is submitted and the specifications are returned in good condition within ten (10) days after the opening and reading of said bids.

A call to the office confirmed that this was how they always do it. When it was suggested that posting the specs on their website would be quicker and cost free, the young woman I spoke to, who seemed very pleasant and helpful, seemed to agree and said they were "looking into it."

This is an excellent example of procedures blindly followed though hopelessly outdated, needlessly complex and that need to be changed right now. It will cost the housing authority nothing to upload the specs to their website and be done, after which bidders can access the paperwork instantly, no special trip and $25 deposit necessary. Unless citizens and taxpayers question requirements like this whenever they encounter them, they will continue on forever.

Everyone has the right to know what their government is doing.
Transparency is expected in all government meetings and daily operations.
Everyone working for the government works for, and is answerable to, you and me.
All laws, regulations, ordinances, budgets, audits and other public records should be freely available, preferably online, for citizens to examine without special fees and paperwork before they can do so.
When municipalities seek bids for contract work, all bid documents should be available online, free of charge. Printed copies, if requested, should be offered at cost.
Agendas should be posted online a minimum of 3 days before public meetings take place allowing interested citizens an opportunity to hear discussions and offer input on matters important to them.