Collins: Volland Pulls Bid

3-3-09: Courtesy of WKBW. After a storm of controversy with the Erie County Legislature over timing, the bidding process and ethics a county contract with Volland Electric for repair work has been withdrawn. It was a company owned in part county executive Chris Collins.

He has asked company the to forgo any money they would have received from Erie County for work already done. "This contract does not go to the legislature for review. There was nothing that was improper that was done. I need to avoid any appearance, even after the fact not knowing that this bid occurred, to take it off the table so we can focus on the road to a bright future," said Collins.

But for legislator Dan Kozub the road to a bright future starts with a thorough review of that contract and how it was awarded. Just because Collins has dropped it doesn't mean the legislature will, yet.

Kozub is calling the companies involved to testify before his committee. He fears that not paying Volland could be seen as a gift from a company that may still be controled by the county executive. "Here he used a phrase if he was a stock holder in GM then he shouldn't by cars for the county. But If you're a small stock holder how do you dictate to a company not to charge somebody," said Kozub.

Collins is also asking any company he has a stake in to refrain from bidding on county projects. he wants to avoid what he says are political attacks. "They don't have a record of accomplishment to run on. So they're in typical Erie County fashion playing attack politics," said Collins.

Erie County Comptroller Mark Poloncarz has also opened up an investigation. He is expected to release his findings Tuesday.

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