At the June 18^th meeting of the Providence City Council, Ward Nine Councilman Miguel Luna introduced a resolution, calling for a 2010 ballot question that would change the composition of the City’s Board of Contract and Supply. If passed, the ballot question would add three community representatives to the board who would be appointed by the City Council.

“The Board of Contract and Supply is one of the City’s most powerful commissions,” said Luna. “Yet, unlike many of our neighbors, Providence has no citizen representation on the board.” The councilman pointed to Cranston, North Providence, and Pawtucket as examples of other cities and towns with representatives from the general public on their purchasing boards. “Community representatives will provide outside perspective, increased transparency, and will help ensure that the board’s decisions always keep the needs and concerns of the taxpayers in mind.”

Luna’s resolution also calls for greater balance between the executive and legislative branches in the board’s composition. “Currently, eight out of the twelve members of the Board of Contract and Supply are members of the executive branch,” said Luna. “By adding new members, appointed by the City Council, we can ensure that major purchasing decisions aren’t made by one branch of government alone, and truly reflect the will of the people of Providence.”

Additionally, the resolution would limit the role of certain current members of the Board of Contract and Supply. “Providence is also unique in that our board has voting representatives from Public Works, Public Safety, the School Department, and the Water Supply Board, even when the board isn’t voting on anything related to those departments,” said Luna. “This resolution would change the rules so that they only vote on matters affecting their departments.”