The Portage Board of Works approved the purchase of two new sports utility vehicles from a local auto dealership Wednesday, but the move fell flat for Common Council President Mark Oprisko and others at City Hall.
The board approved buying two 2018 Ford Explorers from Lakeshore Ford, in Burns Harbor, for $65,786, pending legal review by the city attorney. The move came after Oprisko used a travel policy passed by the city council in October to strip Mayor James Snyder and Economic Development Director Andy Maletta of their city-owned SUVs last month.
During the meeting, Clerk-Treasurer Chris Stidham, who has announced his intention to run for mayor in 2019, asked about the process city officials used in securing the quotes from Lakeshore.
According to Stidham, any quotes should’ve been received by city officials by Dec. 15. The Lakeshore quote had a handwritten receipt date of Dec. 12, but there was no date of receipt on a quote from Connor’s Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, in Chesterton, which quoted two similar vehicles at $68,794.
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Also, City Hall sources and Oprisko insisted Snyder has been using the Ford Explorer officially purchased Wednesday “for at least two weeks,” and Oprisko complained Snyder has offered “zero communication” with the council on big ticket purchases, such as buying the vehicles.
Snyder called his critics’ comments “senseless,” and he insisted he has been using a number of city-owned vehicles and “loaner cars,” including a newer model, while Ford Explorer owned by the parks department.
Snyder had leased a 2016 Chevy Tahoe for about $866 a month, while Maletta’s leased 2016 Ford Expedition ran about $750 a month, officials said.
When asked if Wednesday’s board purchase needed to be approved by the city council, Snyder said, “This board (of Works) purchases vehicles all the time.”
Michael Gonzalez is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.