By a 3-2 vote, the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council approved a request for proposals (RFP) for a new town management firm Tuesday.
The current management firm, Underwood Management Services Group, had indicated in discussion during previous council meetings that it would not participate in an RFP. Under its current contract, the council has the option to extend the town’s arrangement with Underwood for one year.
This decision comes amid budget preparations, the conversion to a new financial accounting computer program and the move into a new town hall building.
Councilman Jim Rockett placed the item on the agenda and made the motion to advertise for proposals to replace Underwood Management. The motion was seconded by Councilman Ryan Liang.
“Unless the council has no doubts about extending the current management contract… I think we should avail ourselves of all the information and options to allow the council to make the best decision possible,” Rockett said, adding that the RFP would need to be done next month because the timing is tight.
Vice Mayor Ron Jarriel provided the third vote. During discussion, Jarriel said the $350,000 contract was an expensive item in the town’s budget and that an invitation for new bidders should be put out.
Jarriel brought up the resurfacing of Marcella Blvd., Bryan Road and Compton Road in April 2014, which he had advocated being done without an RFP but by a piggyback contract. It had drawn criticism from the public, although the project was completed without seeking bids.
“There’s a few of you out in the audience who complained when we paved those three roads in Loxahatchee Groves because we piggybacked,” he said, explaining that the project was completed for $75,000. “Here, we’re talking $300,000 to $350,000 for a management company, and that’s a lot of money. When we’re talking about that much money, we should go out for an RFP. We need to see how many people we’ve got interested.”
Jarriel complimented Underwood Management for several accomplishments, including the move into the new town hall, where they were meeting for the first time, and finalizing an interlocal agreement with the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District for the development of equestrian trails on canal easements.
“I had recommended to [Town Manager Bill Underwood] that I hoped he would bid along with everybody else, because I’m going to pick the one that I feel will serve the town the best,” Jarriel said.
Councilman Tom Goltzené said the contract could legally be extended for another year.
“I find it particularly interesting that the three people who hired the Underwoods now want to fire them,” Goltzené said. “I think it probably indicates that they don’t know what they’re doing, but they do know what they’re doing, because what they’re doing is trying to get somebody who will do just what they want, and the Underwoods don’t do that. The handwriting is on the wall. Bill’s not going to bid, whether you want him to or beg him to. I’m sure he’s insulted.”
Mayor Dave Browning said it bothered him that the council was looking at replacing its fourth manager in nine years.
“We are nine years old, and we’re going out for the fourth management team,” Browning said. “This is not the same as the road contract. This is not the same as a trimming contract. This is a management team. I don’t know what’s available out there, but I know there’s a tremendous learning curve, and I think we’re finally getting to the place where Bill is beginning to understand what our community wants.”
Browning favored renewing the contract for another year.
“If we choose to go out for an RFP, I think the cost is going to go up. Whether it goes up or down, I think the quality is going to go down,” he said. “We’re going to have to start over. He’s got employees here we’re no longer going to have. I think the continuity is important to the residents of our town. To put out an RFP is a slap in the face to Bill Underwood and his whole organization.”
Several residents spoke against seeking new management bids.
Virginia Standish agreed with Browning’s comments about the rapid succession of managers.
“We keep going through management; we’re not going to have continuity,” Standish said. “We finally have a management company that has helped us remain financially solvent, procured a half-million-dollar building, and helped us bring in a financial accounting software program that will correct many of the issues from our ‘government-lite’ days, because, gentlemen, we are no longer government lite.”
Standish also called attention to Underwood’s qualifications and 30 years of background in government finance.
“This is not a man who does not know what he is doing,” she said. “This is a well-versed man, and his team provides us with detailed accounting, especially when it comes to discrepancies with the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District, which I am concerned is in play here. I guess what I’m really questioning here is, what’s the problem?”
Standish added that she thought several members of the council did not want the transparency that the current management company brings to the town.
Reaction to the RFP, however, erupted early in the meeting when newly appointed Finance Advisory & Audit Committee Chair Lung Chiu, who recently replaced Standish, presented a report outlining alleged shortcomings by the management company in complying with its contract.
Goltzené interrupted, saying he did not want to hear allegations of waste against the management company by the new FAAC chair, but only the financial report as had been done in the past.
“I think this is an attempt by Mr. Chiu to push a political agenda,” Goltzené said, pointing out that no problems had been noted in the past five years until now. “Do whatever you want, but I personally don’t want to sit here and listen to him explain to me Mr. Underwood’s contract.”
Browning agreed, saying he would like to hear the financial report rather than a review of Underwood’s contract. He also pointed out that the FAAC had chosen not to review the contract of the town’s solid waste and public works consultant, Frank Schiola, who is also an LGWCD supervisor, saying it was not within their purview.
In related news, the Town-Crier learned on Wednesday morning that Town Clerk Janet Whipple had resigned from her position.
