Testimony Opposing the Amendment and Contract with Tetra Tech
December 16, 2024
My name is Edward Codelia, and I am submitting this testimony today to express my strong opposition to the proposed amendment and allocation of funds for a contract with Tetra Tech to provide emergency management consulting services. While I fully support the County’s efforts to enhance emergency preparedness and resilience, I must urge caution regarding the selection of Tetra Tech for this critical role.
Concerns Regarding Tetra Tech's Qualifications and Credibility
Tetra Tech’s documented history of legal and ethical violations raises serious concerns about its reliability as a contractor for Maui County. Notably, the company has been involved in multiple high-profile controversies, including:
1. Falsification of Environmental Cleanup Data:
o Tetra Tech faced lawsuits and federal investigations for falsifying soil and air quality tests during its cleanup of the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in California. This misconduct endangered public health and resulted in a $7.5 million settlement in 2021.
2. Whistleblower Allegations:
o Employees alleged that Tetra Tech ordered staff to manipulate data to pass regulatory standards. These accusations led to further scrutiny and eroded public confidence in the company’s integrity.
3. Federal Investigations and Lawsuits:
o In other cases, the company was accused of mismanagement and fraud in its contracts, including underperformance and failure to deliver promised outcomes.
Given these precedents, awarding a contract to Tetra Tech poses significant reputational and financial risks to Maui County.
Inadequate Alignment with Maui’s Needs
The scope of Tetra Tech’s proposed services is overly generic and lacks a clear demonstration of how it will address Maui’s unique challenges. Maui’s isolation, wildfire risks, and vulnerabilities to hurricanes and flooding require a contractor with a proven track record of success in addressing similar conditions. Tetra Tech’s proposal heavily relies on workshops, virtual meetings, and basic documentation reviews, which do not reflect the urgency and complexity of Maui’s recovery and preparedness needs.
Moreover, the $141,434.31 allocated for these services appears excessive given the deliverables, which include standard training materials, reviews of existing County documents, and facilitation of brief workshops. The County’s limited resources would be better spent on actionable, community-driven solutions, such as wildfire mitigation measures or localized training for emergency responders.
Legal and Ethical Accountability of the County
By proceeding with this contract, the County risks being complicit in awarding public funds to a company with a questionable ethical history. This could result in legal challenges or public backlash, further eroding trust in County governance. Additionally, the lack of a transparent bidding process undermines confidence in the fairness and equity of this decision.
Recommendations
To ensure the integrity of Maui’s emergency preparedness efforts, I recommend the following:
1. Reject the Current Proposal: The Council should deny the amendment and reallocate funds to alternative projects or contractors with stronger credentials and an unblemished record of performance.
2. Conduct a Transparent Procurement Process: Future contracts should be subject to a robust competitive bidding process to ensure that Maui County partners with contractors who demonstrate ethical practices and proven results.
3. Engage Local Expertise: Maui ad Hawaii have many capable organizations and experts who understand the island’s specific needs. These resources should be prioritized to ensure community-based solutions.
Conclusion
The decisions made today will have far-reaching consequences for Maui’s safety, trust in governance, and financial stewardship. I implore the Council to act in the best interest of our community by rejecting this contract and holding Tetra Tech accountable to a higher standard of scrutiny. Maui deserves partners who prioritize transparency, integrity, and meaningful results.
Mahalo for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Testimony Opposing the Amendment and Contract with Tetra Tech
December 16, 2024
My name is Edward Codelia, and I am submitting this testimony today to express my strong opposition to the proposed amendment and allocation of funds for a contract with Tetra Tech to provide emergency management consulting services. While I fully support the County’s efforts to enhance emergency preparedness and resilience, I must urge caution regarding the selection of Tetra Tech for this critical role.
Concerns Regarding Tetra Tech's Qualifications and Credibility
Tetra Tech’s documented history of legal and ethical violations raises serious concerns about its reliability as a contractor for Maui County. Notably, the company has been involved in multiple high-profile controversies, including:
1. Falsification of Environmental Cleanup Data:
o Tetra Tech faced lawsuits and federal investigations for falsifying soil and air quality tests during its cleanup of the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in California. This misconduct endangered public health and resulted in a $7.5 million settlement in 2021.
2. Whistleblower Allegations:
o Employees alleged that Tetra Tech ordered staff to manipulate data to pass regulatory standards. These accusations led to further scrutiny and eroded public confidence in the company’s integrity.
3. Federal Investigations and Lawsuits:
o In other cases, the company was accused of mismanagement and fraud in its contracts, including underperformance and failure to deliver promised outcomes.
Given these precedents, awarding a contract to Tetra Tech poses significant reputational and financial risks to Maui County.
Inadequate Alignment with Maui’s Needs
The scope of Tetra Tech’s proposed services is overly generic and lacks a clear demonstration of how it will address Maui’s unique challenges. Maui’s isolation, wildfire risks, and vulnerabilities to hurricanes and flooding require a contractor with a proven track record of success in addressing similar conditions. Tetra Tech’s proposal heavily relies on workshops, virtual meetings, and basic documentation reviews, which do not reflect the urgency and complexity of Maui’s recovery and preparedness needs.
Moreover, the $141,434.31 allocated for these services appears excessive given the deliverables, which include standard training materials, reviews of existing County documents, and facilitation of brief workshops. The County’s limited resources would be better spent on actionable, community-driven solutions, such as wildfire mitigation measures or localized training for emergency responders.
Legal and Ethical Accountability of the County
By proceeding with this contract, the County risks being complicit in awarding public funds to a company with a questionable ethical history. This could result in legal challenges or public backlash, further eroding trust in County governance. Additionally, the lack of a transparent bidding process undermines confidence in the fairness and equity of this decision.
Recommendations
To ensure the integrity of Maui’s emergency preparedness efforts, I recommend the following:
1. Reject the Current Proposal: The Council should deny the amendment and reallocate funds to alternative projects or contractors with stronger credentials and an unblemished record of performance.
2. Conduct a Transparent Procurement Process: Future contracts should be subject to a robust competitive bidding process to ensure that Maui County partners with contractors who demonstrate ethical practices and proven results.
3. Engage Local Expertise: Maui ad Hawaii have many capable organizations and experts who understand the island’s specific needs. These resources should be prioritized to ensure community-based solutions.
Conclusion
The decisions made today will have far-reaching consequences for Maui’s safety, trust in governance, and financial stewardship. I implore the Council to act in the best interest of our community by rejecting this contract and holding Tetra Tech accountable to a higher standard of scrutiny. Maui deserves partners who prioritize transparency, integrity, and meaningful results.
Mahalo for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Testimony Opposing the Amendment and Contract with Tetra Tech
December 16, 2024
My name is Edward Codelia, and I am submitting this testimony today to express my strong opposition to the proposed amendment and allocation of funds for a contract with Tetra Tech to provide emergency management consulting services. While I fully support the County’s efforts to enhance emergency preparedness and resilience, I must urge caution regarding the selection of Tetra Tech for this critical role.
Concerns Regarding Tetra Tech's Qualifications and Credibility
Tetra Tech’s documented history of legal and ethical violations raises serious concerns about its reliability as a contractor for Maui County. Notably, the company has been involved in multiple high-profile controversies, including:
1. Falsification of Environmental Cleanup Data:
o Tetra Tech faced lawsuits and federal investigations for falsifying soil and air quality tests during its cleanup of the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in California. This misconduct endangered public health and resulted in a $7.5 million settlement in 2021.
2. Whistleblower Allegations:
o Employees alleged that Tetra Tech ordered staff to manipulate data to pass regulatory standards. These accusations led to further scrutiny and eroded public confidence in the company’s integrity.
3. Federal Investigations and Lawsuits:
o In other cases, the company was accused of mismanagement and fraud in its contracts, including underperformance and failure to deliver promised outcomes.
Given these precedents, awarding a contract to Tetra Tech poses significant reputational and financial risks to Maui County.
Inadequate Alignment with Maui’s Needs
The scope of Tetra Tech’s proposed services is overly generic and lacks a clear demonstration of how it will address Maui’s unique challenges. Maui’s isolation, wildfire risks, and vulnerabilities to hurricanes and flooding require a contractor with a proven track record of success in addressing similar conditions. Tetra Tech’s proposal heavily relies on workshops, virtual meetings, and basic documentation reviews, which do not reflect the urgency and complexity of Maui’s recovery and preparedness needs.
Moreover, the $141,434.31 allocated for these services appears excessive given the deliverables, which include standard training materials, reviews of existing County documents, and facilitation of brief workshops. The County’s limited resources would be better spent on actionable, community-driven solutions, such as wildfire mitigation measures or localized training for emergency responders.
Legal and Ethical Accountability of the County
By proceeding with this contract, the County risks being complicit in awarding public funds to a company with a questionable ethical history. This could result in legal challenges or public backlash, further eroding trust in County governance. Additionally, the lack of a transparent bidding process undermines confidence in the fairness and equity of this decision.
Recommendations
To ensure the integrity of Maui’s emergency preparedness efforts, I recommend the following:
1. Reject the Current Proposal: The Council should deny the amendment and reallocate funds to alternative projects or contractors with stronger credentials and an unblemished record of performance.
2. Conduct a Transparent Procurement Process: Future contracts should be subject to a robust competitive bidding process to ensure that Maui County partners with contractors who demonstrate ethical practices and proven results.
3. Engage Local Expertise: Maui ad Hawaii have many capable organizations and experts who understand the island’s specific needs. These resources should be prioritized to ensure community-based solutions.
Conclusion
The decisions made today will have far-reaching consequences for Maui’s safety, trust in governance, and financial stewardship. I implore the Council to act in the best interest of our community by rejecting this contract and holding Tetra Tech accountable to a higher standard of scrutiny. Maui deserves partners who prioritize transparency, integrity, and meaningful results.
Mahalo for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Edward Codelia
Testimony Opposing the Amendment and Contract with Tetra Tech
December 16, 2024
My name is Edward Codelia, and I am submitting this testimony today to express my strong opposition to the proposed amendment and allocation of funds for a contract with Tetra Tech to provide emergency management consulting services. While I fully support the County’s efforts to enhance emergency preparedness and resilience, I must urge caution regarding the selection of Tetra Tech for this critical role.
Concerns Regarding Tetra Tech's Qualifications and Credibility
Tetra Tech’s documented history of legal and ethical violations raises serious concerns about its reliability as a contractor for Maui County. Notably, the company has been involved in multiple high-profile controversies, including:
1. Falsification of Environmental Cleanup Data:
o Tetra Tech faced lawsuits and federal investigations for falsifying soil and air quality tests during its cleanup of the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in California. This misconduct endangered public health and resulted in a $7.5 million settlement in 2021.
2. Whistleblower Allegations:
o Employees alleged that Tetra Tech ordered staff to manipulate data to pass regulatory standards. These accusations led to further scrutiny and eroded public confidence in the company’s integrity.
3. Federal Investigations and Lawsuits:
o In other cases, the company was accused of mismanagement and fraud in its contracts, including underperformance and failure to deliver promised outcomes.
Given these precedents, awarding a contract to Tetra Tech poses significant reputational and financial risks to Maui County.
Inadequate Alignment with Maui’s Needs
The scope of Tetra Tech’s proposed services is overly generic and lacks a clear demonstration of how it will address Maui’s unique challenges. Maui’s isolation, wildfire risks, and vulnerabilities to hurricanes and flooding require a contractor with a proven track record of success in addressing similar conditions. Tetra Tech’s proposal heavily relies on workshops, virtual meetings, and basic documentation reviews, which do not reflect the urgency and complexity of Maui’s recovery and preparedness needs.
Moreover, the $141,434.31 allocated for these services appears excessive given the deliverables, which include standard training materials, reviews of existing County documents, and facilitation of brief workshops. The County’s limited resources would be better spent on actionable, community-driven solutions, such as wildfire mitigation measures or localized training for emergency responders.
Legal and Ethical Accountability of the County
By proceeding with this contract, the County risks being complicit in awarding public funds to a company with a questionable ethical history. This could result in legal challenges or public backlash, further eroding trust in County governance. Additionally, the lack of a transparent bidding process undermines confidence in the fairness and equity of this decision.
Recommendations
To ensure the integrity of Maui’s emergency preparedness efforts, I recommend the following:
1. Reject the Current Proposal: The Council should deny the amendment and reallocate funds to alternative projects or contractors with stronger credentials and an unblemished record of performance.
2. Conduct a Transparent Procurement Process: Future contracts should be subject to a robust competitive bidding process to ensure that Maui County partners with contractors who demonstrate ethical practices and proven results.
3. Engage Local Expertise: Maui ad Hawaii have many capable organizations and experts who understand the island’s specific needs. These resources should be prioritized to ensure community-based solutions.
Conclusion
The decisions made today will have far-reaching consequences for Maui’s safety, trust in governance, and financial stewardship. I implore the Council to act in the best interest of our community by rejecting this contract and holding Tetra Tech accountable to a higher standard of scrutiny. Maui deserves partners who prioritize transparency, integrity, and meaningful results.
Mahalo for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Edward Codelia