The Columbia Association will debate whether to continue hiring contractors who outsource jobs at the next board meeting.
The issue was sparked by the association?s decision to outsource part of a software programming contract to Bangalore, India. Board Member Phil Marcus plans to make a motion outlawing the practice for contracts valued at more than $25,000.
“I get e-mails all the time from people asking why we did that. Columbia, more than most places, has a lot of programmers we could hire,” Marcus said. He added that hiring a local business would boost Columbia?s own economy.
Columbia is home to many small- and medium-sized software companies such as CMS Software, Enterprise Portal Software and Giraffe Software.
“I?m a big fan of using companies in your county. You have so many firms that do computer work in Columbia, there is no need of getting a contract with a company that outsources,” said Purnell Glenn, president of Independent Computer Consultant Association of Maryland.
The association hired the Princeton, N.J.-based office of an Indian company, ITC, for its $432,000 software programming contract, signed in December.
The decision to hire ITC was debated briefly in a budget meeting, but there was not enough discussion, Marcus said. Some board members said they are looking forward to debating all sides of the issue at the July 13 board meeting.
“I would like to see CA get the best bang for its buck. I think contracts should be considered on a case-by-case basis. I don?t like to see a blanket rule that you can never outsource,” said Board Member Henry Dagenais.
Two top Columbia Association staff members ? Raffia Siddiqui, vice president of administration and chief financial officer, and Donna Dupree, director of marketing and communication ? returned June 30 from a three-month trip to India to supervise the programming overhaul.
The next meeting
» Columbia Association Board Member Phil Marcus will motion to prevent the association from using contractors that outsource jobs outside of the country at the next Board Meeting. It is 7:30 p.m. July 13 at the Columbia Association headquarters on Wincopin Circle in Columbia.
