June 17, 2008, 11:49PM
SER centers lose $5.1 million contract
Senator wants H-GAC to reassess criteria that led to the funding cut for the Hispanic group


By JAMES PINKERTON
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle


A longtime Hispanic service agency lost a multimillion-dollar contract Tuesday to operate three employment centers on the northside, but a Houston state senator wants the local government council to revisit that decision.

The Houston-Galveston Area Council of Government voted unanimously to cut funding to the nonprofit SER-Jobs For Progress when its $5.1 million contract expires Sept. 30.

SER operates three of H-GAC's 34 job counseling centers, but council officials said an anticipated 25 percent drop in next year's federal job funding is forcing them to close six or seven centers.

H-GAC staff rated SER the worst-performing contractor despite 30 years of H-GAC contracts in Houston.

''I know it was a tough decision," said H-GAC chairman B.J. Gaines Jr., a Walker County commissioner, after the vote.

However, state Sen. Mario Gallegos, D-Houston, noted that SER's performance on one set of production criteria set by the H-GAC board exceeded a for-profit contractor whose contract was extended. He added that SER was not notified of performance ratings until late last month.

''Give me a break — it's insulting at the least," Gallegos said. ''I'm very disappointed with the H-GAC board members. I want them to reassess the entire (performance) measures."

Faced with a $17 million cut in funding, the H-GAC followed staff and committee recommendations to award $41.5 million in employment funds to Houston Works, Arbor E&T and Interfaith of The Woodlands. That amount reflects contract cuts of 13 to 38 percent next year for the agencies. Ending SER's contract means their 80 Houston employees will lose their jobs.

''In every instance, it's been a unanimous vote that this is a necessary decision," said Rodney Bradshaw, the H-GAC director of human services programs. ''There's been a very public and open process, and I think it was a reasonable decision given the proposals (by contractors), given performance, and given the federal funding cut."

james.pinkerton@chron.com



Is this for illegals ?



http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/met ... 43509.html