Guinn calls for revamp of Public Works Board

As he promised after a foul-up that cost the state $10 million, Gov. Kenny Guinn has asked the Legislature to change the makeup of the Public Works Board so it is chaired by the governor and has a voting majority of elected officials.

Currently, the governor appoints the members of the board from the construction, engineering and architecture professions but, after that, has only minimal control over what the board does. He doesn't even have a say over who is hired as Public Works Manager.

He said in June the make-up of the board, which manages upwards of a half-billion dollars in construction at any one time, should be dominated by elected officials.

Those comments followed an arbitrator's decision that blamed PWB for design and construction problems at the Southern Nevada Veterans Home.

The board, frustrated by the problems, fired the contractor and hired someone else to finish the job. But the arbitrator ruled those delays, design problems and cost over-runs were the fault of the state. The decision ordered the state to pay the contractor $10.3 million in damages and, after a review by lawyers, the Board of Examiners headed by Gov. Guinn agreed it had no choice but to pay.

The legislative proposal he submitted last week would reduce the board from seven to five members. Instead of industry representatives, it would consist of the governor, lieutenant governor and state treasurer along with two appointed members - one of whom would have to be an architect or engineer.

And it would give the governor the power to appoint and, if there are problems, remove the Public Works Manager rather than the board. The proposal would also give the governor final say over the manager's selection of deputies for professional, fiscal and construction services.

Guinn said after the ruling in the veteran's home case that responsibility for the state's capital construction program should be in the hands of officials elected by and responsible to the public.

"This is just too important to put in the hands of independent people," he said.

He said a similar bill failed in the 2005 Legislature but, after the veterans home judgment, he said he thinks the new governor and legislators will see the importance of changing the system.

• Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.