by KYW’s Mike Dunn
City Council expects answers this week about why taxpayer dollars were used for a high-priced consultant to manage the stalled and troubled "Wireless Philadelphia" project, even though the effort was supposed to cost taxpayers nothing.
Earthlink, not Philadelphia taxpayers, is footing the multi-million dollar bill to build the city's Wi-Fi network. But the Mayor's Office of Information Services, MOIS, hired a consultant to manage the city's end of the project for the past three years -- costing taxpayers $220,000 taxpayer dollars in the last year alone.
MOIS chief Terry Phillis (right) says the consultant, Varinia Robinson, was hired for her expertise:
"Varinia brings very, very specific wireless technology to the table that we do not have within MOIS."
And Phillis insists this is not at odds with claims that Wireless Philadelphia would cost taxpayers nothing:
"There is zero cost to the taxpayers for building out the network. Her cost is not for building the network. Her cost is for the project management side of what the city is responsible for."
But City Councilman Frank Rizzo is surprised any city dollars are involved:
"To spend money and create positions is not what this was intended to do."
Rizzo plans to question Phillis about Robinson’s contract when MOIS’s new budget is reviewed by Council on Tuesday:
“Any project of this magnitude needs some expertise. But I just want to make sure that it doesn't get out of control and turn into millions and millions of dollars of taxpayer money."
“Wireless Philadelphia” was former mayor John Street’s vision to blanket the city in a Wi-Fi signal, and offer the service at reduced rates to lower income residents. But Earthlink is now getting out of the municipal Wi-Fi business and wants to find a buyer to assume the project.
In the meantime, construction of the network in Philadelphia has ground to a near halt at 80% complete (see previous story).
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