Board takes no action on FCMG

 The owner of Facilities Cost Management Group made an impassioned plea and told New Hampton School Board members they would not get the “best value” if they terminated its contract with his company.And those audience members who hoped the board would terminate its contract with Facilities Cost Management Group left the high school disappointed.Instead, after a meeting that lasted almost 2 1/2 hours, board members agreed to Merle Rambo’s request to allow him to hold a “workshop” with local contractors before the board considers terminating its contract with FCMG.Rambo almost immediately addressed what he called the “negativity” that has surrounded him and his company.“I’m an old guy, and I can bear this,” he said, “but I believe we can give you a great building at a great value. ... If we meet and you still think the board should part ways with us, so be it, but I want a chance to explain how we work and why it works.”Rambo said there are a number of ways his company saves school districts and taxpayers money on building projects.He said FCMG gets “inside the bidding market” and is creative when it helps districts craft bid sheets. He pointed out that instead of focusing on a name brand, FCMG allows contractors to focus on obtaining items from “performance-based” vendors.For the complete story see the 7/1/2016 New Hampton Tribune.