Regents demand contract review

Jennifer Knight

Thursday, Feb. 7, 2002 | 10:55 a.m.

Two university regents are demanding a full accounting of "exorbitant" consultant contracts at Nevada State College at Henderson, including the $60,000 spent on high-powered political strategist Kent Oram.

In a letter to fellow regents, Tom Kirkpatrick called for a full review of all consultant contracts that the state college or its foundation has entered into, calling eight contracts that pay consultants $1,000 a day "exorbitant."

"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." The state college, which is due to open Sept. 3, has hired a slate of consultants that college officials say are necessary to get the school open in time.

But regents are questioning the cost and the work the consultants are doing.

Oram, who is well-known by politicians statewide, was hired by the Nevada State College Foundation board to handle "public perception" regarding the college.

Regent Steve Sisolak called Oram's work "damage control" for a stream of bad press that Moore received over his work at the Community College of Southern Nevada.

"It appears that Oram was hired to spin these stories in a favorable light," Sisolak said. "People are donating money to the college to help students further their educational opportunities. The purpose is to not buy confidantes who do damage control."

Oram defended his work at the state college as something that was necessary.

"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."

Moore was unavailable for comment.

Regent Jill Derby, who is an avid state college supporter, defended Moore's need for a publicity consultant.

"It's not an unreasonable amount to pay, given the opposition that there was to the college," Derby said.

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.

The contract came in the wake of a controversy over administrative issues that came out of Moore's tenure as president of CCSN. At the time, he was the newly appointed president of the new college, and the controversy came out from an unfavorable audit into his administration.

The audit found that the school had overspent its budget on certain projects, ignored state policies and kept poor records on presidential financial accounts.

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

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.

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.