TN city paid consultant more than $730K without a contract

Friday, July 19, 2013

photo Franklin city officials discovered that a software consultant was paid more than $730,000 for work he performed for the city without a contract. Contractor Ed Stewart no longer is working for the city after officials discovered the problem.

FRANKLIN - Starting in August 2005, city software consultant Ed Stewart was hired as a consultant to oversee installing a new software program for Franklin's city departments.

Instead of following Franklin's competitive bid rules and submitting a proposal, however, Stewart installed the software program without signing a contract or going through the bidding process that would have given city officials a chance to compare whether Stewart's $60-an-hour price was cheaper or more expensive than other contractors.

In the end, invoices show the city paid the Windham, Maine-based consultant more than $730,000 from August 2005 through February 2013 before Franklin officials discovered Stewart did not have a contract with the city.

Read more from our news partners at The Tennessean.