Something “doesn’t smell right”

 
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Here’s a sneak preview of a story we’re running next week out of La Puente.

It seems a mysterious contract is stirring up some serious drama, and forcing some officials to question whether those in City Hall are being influenced by outside consultants.

The entire debate surrounds a $400,000 consulting agreement proposed to the Charles Co. by Alliance Services Group.

The agreement, dated March, proposes that Alliance Services Group will provide services “to finalize the Development and Disposition Agreement” between the city and the Charles Co. in exchange for $400,000.

A DDA, in case you didn’t know, is basically a final contract between a city and a contractor for work. No backing out, essentially.

Alliance Services Group is a subsidy of Industry-based Del Terra Group, Inc., which in March, went up for a job to perform a citywide review of La Puente’s existing service contracts.

They dropped out of the running the night the council was slated to make their decision.

The council is divided on whether they believe someone in City Hall brokered the deal, though Councilman John Solis is sure someone did.

Councilwoman Lola Storing said she wants the DA and the city to look into it.

“It doesn’t smell right,” she said.

Look for the story next week.