Watchdog muzzled (America)

www.ems.org
SPECIAL COUNSEL SEEKS TO HIDE ITS CONTRACTS
Says It Lacks Staff to Consider Request for Ex-Boarding School Headmaster Records
Washington, DC — The U.S. Office of Special Counsel claims that it is unable to produce a copy of consultant contract with a former Catholic boarding school headmaster, according to an affidavit filed in response to a lawsuit brought by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). PEER is seeking to force the release of documents showing how the agency that is supposed to police compliance with federal civil service rules is itself circumventing civil service rules by using no-bid consultants and hiring on a non-competitive basis.
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PEER is seeking copies of contracts and work products for –
· Alan Hicks, a former headmaster of St. Gregory’s Academy, a Catholic boarding school, who left in the wake of allegations concerning priests sexually preying on young students. Bloch retained Hicks as a special consultant. PEER is seeking the contract and the resultant work-product; and
· A series of no-bid management consultant contracts let by Bloch. One of these contracts produced a report that Bloch is citing as the basis for creating a new “Midwest Field Office in Detroit” that will be run by staff members forcibly transferred there from Washington, D.C.
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One of OSC’s duties is to oversee administration of the Freedom of Information Act by other agencies.
“God help the Freedom of Information Act.” Ruch [PEER] concluded.


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