Regent: Cost for college consultants exorbitant

Jennifer Knight

Thursday, Feb. 7, 2002 | 10:07 a.m.

University Regent Tom Kirkpatrick is calling for full accounting of consultants being used at the new Nevada State College at Henderson and the costs he calls exorbitant.

Kirkpatrick has sent a letter to regents and the university chancellor asking for complete disclosure on consultants who are making as much as $1,000 a day at the college.

"These consultant fees seem a little excessive to me," Kirkpatrick said. "I have a great deal of concern about how (college President) Richard Moore spends his money."

Moore was unavailable for comment.

Kirkpatrick is also asking all eight institutions in the system, to also provide lists of their paid consultants.

"I want to see if this sort of practice is pervasive throughout the system," Kirkpatrick said.

Kirkpatrick has targeted eight consultants at the college including political strategist Kent Oram who was paid $60,000 by the Nevada State College Foundation to work with Moore.

According to Oram's contract, he was paid a retainer fee of $8,570 a month from December 2000 until June 2001 to help with media representatives, community relations and public perception.

It was a time when several unfavorable stories had come out in relation to Moore's former work as president of the Community College of Southern Nevada.

In April 2000, stories surfaced about CCSN's commission of bronze bust likenesses of key political figures. Critics said it was a way to curry favors. Those defending the practice said it was an art project to pay tribute to politicians.

An unfavorable presidential exit audit of Richard Moore came out in June 2000, six months after he left to head the state college. The report found that the school had overspent its budget on certain projects, ignored state policies and kept poor records on presidential host accounts.

Several other stories that year detailed negative aspects of Moore's administration.

Oram said he was hired to give advice to Moore on how to correct some of those public perceptions.

"What's wrong with damage control if what you're being damaged with is untrue?" Oram said. "I told him that if you think you're getting hurt by some of these stories, instead of saying nothing, let's get it out and take it to the public."

Regent Steve Sisolak said it was interesting that "the timing on the contract was at the same time as when the Legislature met."

"I know he wasn't a lobbyist for the college because he wasn't registered as one," Sisolak said. "I'd like to find out exactly what we paid $60,000 for this guy to do."

All contracts are first forwarded to the foundation's board and then voted on, said Selma Bartlett, treasure of the foundation. She said she was not even made aware of the nature of Oram's hire.

Nevada's higher education Chancellor Jane Nichols said that people have been too critical of Moore and consultants are the only way to get the college up and running for its Sept. 3 opening.

"He is unable to open the college without hiring people quickly," Nichols said. "He's in a difficult position. I think to second guess him on whether he is paying too much or not isn't my place."

Moore has said all along that $1,000 a day -- for up to 20 days -- is the going rate for consultants.

Currently Bob Johns, a principal of Foothill High School and George Ann Rice, an assistant superintendent of human resources at Clark County School District are being paid that rate. Johns is helping out with admissions and Rice is helping plan the teacher's program.