Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1948 [PAGE 830]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1947]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

829

Champaign County Real Estate Board, namely, $23,800, providing the purchase is made by September 30, 1047. I recommend that authority be given for the purchase of this property and that a special appropriation be made from the General Reserve Fund of $24,000, or so much thereof as may be required, for the purchase and completion of the transaction.

On motion of Mr. Fornof, this purchase was authorized and the appropriation made as recommended, by the following vote: Aye, Mr. Fornof, Mrs. Holt, Mr. Livingston, Mr. McKelvey, Mr. McLaughlin, Mr. Williamson; no, none; absent, Mr. Davis, Mr. Green, Dr. Luken, Dr. Meyer, Mr. Nickell.

PURCHASE OF PRINTING EQUIPMENT (2) On if arch 27, 1947 (Minutes, page 312), the Board authorized the purchase of a new press to be installed in Gregory Hall for joint use by the Illini Publishing Company, the University Press, and the School of Journalism to replace the press now owned and operated by the Illini Publishing Company in Illini Hall. An appropriation of $25,000 was made to apply toward the cost of the press, the balance of cost of the press to be paid by the Illini Publishing Company. Specifications were prepared by a committee representing the three interested parties, inviting bids on either a unit-type tubular or semi-cylindrical plate newspaper press of 12-page capacity. Bids were invited from all manufacturers able to furnish satisfactory equipment of either of these types. The only bid received was that of the Goss Printing Company of Chicago at a price of $59,710 for the press and complete equipment as specified, with an escalator clause providing for an increase in price to cover any increase in costs of manufacture subsequent to this date and before delivery. The Company agrees that, if the readjusted price is not satisfactory, the contract may be cancelled by the buyer without penalty. Date of delivery is estimated at 18 months. The bidder insists on an advance payment of 10 per cent to establish the order on its production schedule in accordance with standard practice. He also asks for payments approximately in accordance with the following schedule: 25 per cent on notification of completion of manufacture; 15 per cent on shipment; balance of 50 per cent on installation and acceptance. Responsibility for installation will be assumed by the Company, the University to prepare the space for the installation, for which a separate additional appropriation will be necessary when costs are determined. These conditions are somewhat unusual in University contracts and purchases, but the Company will not accept an order under any other terms. Demand for such equipment is so great that it is necessary that the University comply with these terms in order to have assurance of the equipment within any reasonable time. T o postpone the purchase until more favorable conditions and prices can be secured may mean a delay of several years. The Director of Purchases, the Director of the School of Journalism, the Director of the University Press, the Chairman of the Illini Publishing Company, and the Comptroller make the following recommendations: 1. The preparation of a joint contract of purchase on the foregoing terms between the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois and the Illini Publishing Company, and the Goss Printing Press Company for the purchase of a 12-page unit-type tubular plate press with motor and necessary accessories, the University to pay $25,000 toward the cost of the equipment and the Illini Publishing Company to assume the balance of the cost. 2. The preparation of a declaration of trust between the Illini Publishing Company and the Board of Trustees placing the title of the property in trust in the University with the responsibility for operation and maintenance of the press in the Illini Publishing Company and making other necessary provisions incident to operation. I concur in these recommendations and recommend approval and request authority for the Comptroller and the Secretary of the Board to execute the necessary contracts subject to approval by the Legal Counsel of the University.

On motion of Mr. Fornof, these recommendations were approved and authority granted as recommended.