Wayne Lassiter, interim Financial director for the City explained: "I have searched all possible places the payment could be and I can say with absolute certainty, it is not and has not been received by the City of Richmond."
After he determined that officials at the City's Economic Development Authority did not have the money, Lassiter said Friday that the invoice "would be sent before the close of business."
He apologized for the failure of the city to send the invoice in a timely manner and added that he did not think that Bon Secours would be assessed a late fee.
The bad news is that the City Finance Office, headed by Sharon Judkins, is still trying to figure out what other monies are owed to the school system as a result of the city's leasing of the Westhampton Building to Bon Secours as part of the deal brokered by the city to create a $10-million dollar-plus practice facility for the Washington Redskins Team.
Given that City Auditor Umesh Dalal's office and City Council members have been stonewalled by Judkins in their efforts to audit the new $18 million information technology system and that employees complain that they are not properly trained to use the "RAPIDS" system software, I suggest they follow this link from the Richmond City Government website:
[http://eservices.ci.richmond.va.us/applications/clerkstracking/getPDF.asp?NO=2012-R151-147].
This document spells out in specific terms additional monies that are owed to Richmond Public Schools from the City of Richmond stemming from the city's use of an historic school in Richmond's West End to anchor the development deal.
Both Judkins and Byron Marshall, Richmond Chief Administrative Officer, were well aware that the money was due on Jan. 2, 2014:
-----Original Message----- From: Marshall, Byron C. - CAO Sent: Tuesday, October 08, 2013 6:02 PM To: Hilbert, Chris A. - Council Member Cc: Judkins, Sharon O. - Finance; Denslow, Suzette - Mayor's Office Subject: FW: Redskins/Bon Secours question CM Hilbert, In answer to your question regarding the status of a $133,000 payment from Bon Secours, please be advised that EDA has received $33,0000 to cover rent of the facility and maintenance of its grounds. The first of 10 $100,000 annual payments is due on January 2, 2014. Section viii, 2, the relevant portion of the Performance Agreement between Bon Secours and the EDA is quoted below in Sharon Judkins' email to me. Please let me know if you have additional questions. Best regatds, BCM -----Original Message----- From: Judkins, Sharon O. - Finance Sent: Tuesday, October 08, 2013 5:45 PM To: Marshall, Byron C. - CAO Subject: RE: Redskins/Bon Secours question Mr. Marshall, According to the Performance Agreement between the EDA and Bon Secours, section viii,2, "Payment to Support Public Schools", Bon Secours shall pay to the City the amount of $100,000, for (10) fiscal years commencing january 2,2014 and ending on January 2, 2023. As a result, no payment is due at this time and none has been received. Additionally, in the "Deed of Ground Lease" between EDA and Bon Secours, section 5 (Rent and Playing field Maintenance Amount), upon execution of the lease, the teneant shall pay to the landlord the amount of $33,000, which may be cash or in the form of a letter of credit and which will be credited to the first annual rent payment and the first playing field maintenance amount. Base on such lease, we do not interpret the $33,000 as payment ear-marked for schools. Please let me know if you have other questions or require additional information. Sharon O. Judkins Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Finance and Administration 900 East Broad Street, Suite 1003 Richmond, VA 23219 804-646-7920 (W) 804-646-6388 (Fax) 804-484-4064 (C) sharon.judkins@richmondgov.com
Neither Marshall nor Judkins offered a comment.
School Board officials also had no comment.
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