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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTR-02-00 Ill" "' ON: TR-D2.DD llEPORT #6 THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON REPORT Report #: TR-02-00 FILE#: r<.:(./It . File # /~.'3, -'11,4- Res. # C .-;:c<j~oo By-law # ':<000" {) ;)' Meeting: Council Date: January 10, 2000 Subject: OUTSOURCING OF TAX BILLS RECOMMENDATIONS: It is respectfully recommended to Council the following: 1. THAT Report TR-02-00 be received; 2. THAT the quotation for the printing, folding, inserting and mailing of tax bills from Cover-All Computer Services Ltd., Markham be accepted; 3. THAT pending satisfactory service from Cover-All Computer Services Ltd., the existing mailing, folding and inserting equipment be sold as surplus equipment in accordance with the Purchasing by-law; 4. THAT the attached By-law, marked Schedule "An authorizing the Mayor and Clerk to enter into the necessary agreement be approved. BACKGROUND AND COMMENT The current process for the issuing of tax notices is that the various pieces of printed material are ordered and delivered to the Municipality. Staff, then print the tax notices, fold and insert into the envelopes, process required postage, and mail. The equipment used for the process was purchased in 1990, with a minor upgrade in 1995. After 9 years this equipment has now reached the stage where it can no longer provide the Municipality of Clarington with the reliability and dependability it requires. The cost to replace this equipment is $22,650.00 plus taxes. \ ~ ~ REPORT NO.: TR-02-00 PAGE 2 Historically, each component of the tax bill has been ordered separately, thereby substantially increasing the price. The summary below shows the approximate expenditure for printing of the tax notices, envelopes and inserts for two separate mailings. . 50M Tax Bills, envelopes & inserts, 25M ordered separately, $14,242.00 for two mailings per year 20,000 Reminder Notices printed in house on letterhead and envelopes for mailing $1,550.00 TOTAL $15,793.00 All taxes extra . A proposal to outsource the entire tax notice, from its design stage to printing, folding, inserting and mailing is being recommended by Staff. A quotation has been received from Cover-All Computer Services Ltd. based on purchasing a quantity of 50,000 tax notices, envelopes and inserts at one time. Cover- All will print, fold, insert and deliver to Canada Post for mailing. The full outsourcing of approximately 50,000 tax notices, 20,000 reminder notices and 5,000 receipts to Cover- All Computer Services Ltd. will cost the Municipality $15,582.00. The Municipality would be required to supply to Cover-All a magnetic tape containing all tax information and a cheque for the required postage. For a further proposed saving of approximately $3,000.00 annually, Cover-All can pre- sort our client mailing list into Delivery Mode Presort which should allow 80% of the tax bills to be rated at 36.5 or 41.0 cents per envelope. This service would cost $500.00 per mailing. \ ~ REPORT NO.: TR-02-00 PAGE 3 Cover-All Computer Services Ltd. is a very reputable and reliable company. They are presently outsourcing for various cities; a list of references is attached as Schedule "B". Cover-All Computer Services Ltd. have a very secure print shop, excellent turn around and scheduling and a sample run is provided for approval before final printing. A Confidentiality Agreement is required and is attached to the By-law (Schedule A) for information purposes. There are very limited reliable service providers in this area, and the cost is relatively low, consequently competitive bids were not solicited for this service. ADVANTAGES TO OUTSOURCING: . Allows existing staff time to be utilized for essential duties such as a focus on collection of arrears. . This will decrease outstanding arrears balances. . No requirement for new equipment and expensive lease payments . Expensive maintenance contracts not required for mailing equipment . Relieves space in basement by eliminating bulky and expensive equipment that is historically used only twice yearly . Reduces potential for RSI injuries by eliminating need for staff to perform the folding, sorting and mailing function. \ . REPORT NO.: TR-02-00 PAGE 4 Annual Estimated Savings if Outsourced: Lease and updating of equipment - purchase $22,650.00 Lease $530.00/month X12 months Service Maintenance on Equipment no longer required $142.00/month X 12 months Current method - materials only $15,793.00 $1,740.00 Outsourcing tax notices, reminder notices and receipts (Material and Labour) $15,582.00 Savings Proposed saving on postage by presorting SUB TOTAL Estimated Labour Savings TOTAL ANNUAL SAVINGS $210.00 $3,000.00 $11,310.00 $4,200.00 $15,510.00 Any commitment with Cover-All Computer Systems Ltd. is based on a 12 month term and may be cancelled due to non-performance, upon thirty days written notice, with an agreement to buy back any inventory Cover-All may have on hand at that time. Staff have reviewed the proposal received from Cover-All Computer Systems Ltd. and concur with the recommendation to outsource the tax bills and that pending satisfactory service, that the mailing, folding and inserting equipment be sold as surplus equipment in accordance with the Purchasing By-law. \ REPORT NO.: TR-GZ-GO PAGE 5 Based on a recent survey in the Region of Durham on the outsourcing of the bills, the results are detailed below: Region Town of Ajax Town of Whitby Town of Pickering City of Oshawa Township of Brock Township of Scugog Township of Uxbridge Method Outsourcing is part of their Banking Agreement Outsourcing is part of their Banking Agreement Outsourcing is part of their Banking Agreement Print bills in house, outsource folding and stuffing Billing done in house Billing done in house Billing done in house This report has been brought direct to Council as. there is a lengthy time lag to order blank bills to produce tax bills manually should Council decide against the outsourcing alternative. Proposed tentative tax instalment dates for the Year 2000 are February 25, April 19, June 21 and September 20. Respectfully submitted, Reviewed by, o ~=0-L Franklin Wu, M.C.I.P.,R.P.P., Chief Administrative Officer Marie Marano, H.BSc., AMCT., Treasurer MM*LAB*km SCHEDULE "A" THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON BY-LAW 2000- Being a By-law to enter into an agreement between the Corporation of the Municipality of Clarington and Cover-All Computer Services Ltd., Markham, Ontario, to outsource the tax bills. THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON HEREBY ENACTS AS FOLLOWS: 1. THAT the Mayor and Clerk are hereby authorized to execute, on behalf of the Corporation of the Municipality of Clarington with the Corporation Seal, an agreement between Cover-All Computer Services Ltd., Markham, Ontario, and said Corporation; and 2. THAT the contract attached hereto as Schedule "A" form part of this By-law. By-law read a first and second time this day of , 2000. By-law read a third time and finally passed this day of , 2000. Mayor Clerk e 1G 98 ,9: 32 jlJVJ ; CG'lER ALL :CIREC':' RESPOnSE 4169409317;# 4/ 7 AlTACHMENT TO SCHEDULE "A" . . . . . . . . .. . ... .. . . ...... . ... .... ... ... ... ... ... ... .... .... .......... ........ ...... CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT COVER-ALL THIS AGREEMENT is made as of June 10, 1998 by and between MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON (hereinafter "Mun/Clar."), a corporation having an address at 40 Temperance Street, Bowmanville, Ontario, L1C 3A6 and COVER.ALl DIRECT RESPONSE SYSTEMS LTD, (hereinafter "Cover-All"), an Ontario corporation having an address at 80 Gough Road, Markham, Ontario, L3R 6E8, WIT N E SSE T H: WHEREAS, Mun/Clar, and Cover-All may from time to time find it necessary to disclose to each other certain proprietary and/or confidential business and technical information for purposes of discussing the possibility of each performing certain services for the other (hereinafter the "Proposed Services"). NOW THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows: 1, DEFINITION, "Confidential Information" shall mean all methods, technology, trade secrets and other accumulated technical knowledge or proprietary information including, but not limited to, information regarding business, business plans, business strategy, technology, products, production methods, marketing plans, marketing strategy, research and development activities, designs, proprietary matters or any other information. COVER.ALL COMPUTER SERVICES LTD, 80 Gough Rood, Mark,ha'Tl, Ortario DR 6~8 Tel.. 905/9.40.1919 Fax: 905/940-2107 rJv 6~l8~98 ,9: 32. .AI'.1 ; COVER ALL DIRECT RESFONSE 4!6940Q;.'l7; # F.// 2. USE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. Each party shall use the other party's Confidential Information only for the purposes of performing the Proposed Services. 3. DISCLOSURE RESTRICTIONS. Each party agrees to: (a) hold the other party's Confidential Information in strict confidence: (b) disclose the other party's Confidential Information only to its employees to whom knowledge is required and to the extent necessary for its proper use in accordance with this Agreement; (c) require that its employees hold the other party's Confidential Information in strict confidence; and (d) take steps to prevent the accidental or unauthorized disclosure of the other party's Confidential Information. 4. EXCEPTIONS. Confidentiallntormation shall not include and this Agreement shall not apply to information: (i) which one party can demonstrate was already known to it prior to the date it was received from the other party; (ii) which, at the time of disclosure or later, is published or becomes otherwise available to the general public as part of the public domain through no act or failure to act on the part of the receiving party and without breach of this Agreement; or (iii) which the receiving party can demonstrate came into its Possession from third parties who have a bona fide right to make such information available without restriction. r)Jv 0-10-98 9 32 .'i.M ; COVER-.ALL :CIREC'::' RESPONSE 4168409317;# B/ 7 5, OWNERSHIP OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. The parties agree that the disclosure of Confidential Information under this Agreement creates no ownership or license to the receiving party and that the disclosing party reserves all patent, trade secret and other proprietary rights it might have. 6, SEVERABIUTY, In the event any portion of this Agreement shall be found unlawful, unreasonable or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction. the parties agree to accept as binding any such lesser restrictions which such court shall deem reasonable, 7, RETURN OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, Each party shall return to the other party upon written demand any and all written documents entrusted to the recipient and shall not copy or reproduce in whole or in part any documents without the disclosing party's permission, 8, TERM OF AGREEMENT. The tenn of this Agreement shall be one ( 1 ) year from the date first stated above, g, SURVIVAL. The parties' obligations respecting nondisclosure and non-use of Confidential Information of the other received during the tenn of this Agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement, (f; I - ~ ..~~ "~H'-'~L h.L;o",r__ 'Llo;j4')~.:Lll; W '/ 10. GOVERNING LAW. This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the said parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by their authorized representatives. COVER-ALL DIRECT RESPONSE SYSTEMS L TO By By Name ----N\ G\i"lnlll~ (please print) Name (please print) Title ~~. ".<cI.M~",^",,\~ Title Date Ju...."" u; I <tf( Date cP 6 5 98 3: 31 PfYI ; COVER-ALL D:RECT RESPOJ.,SE 41694003:7;' Z/ 2 . , SCHEDULE "S" Production and MalJing of Parking Infraction Payment & Trial Notices September 1, 1998 through August 31, 2000 REFERENCES: The following references for whom this firm provides similar services as to those proposed may be contacted for further information: Name and Address of Reference Telephone Type of Commente Company Name Number Service Provided 4l6/ City of Toronto R. Jorgem 39.2-896 Welfare very pleased on Notices with service 905( City of Bob Has tee 896-5234 Tax Bills Very pleased Mississauqa O(S with serivce notices 905/ City of Henry 874-220 Tax Bill! Very pleased Brampton Coffey with service 905/ City of Arthur 832-858 Tax Bill Very pleased Vaughan Welsh X8268 with service 416/ City of Ed Martin 394-832 Tax Bill! Very pleased Etobicoke . with service Town of Sam Jones 905/ Caledon 584-227 Tax Bill very pleased with service 21