MILTON — The city is once again in the process of searching for a new attorney. After a motion made last month to end the city’s contract with Lindsay and Lindsay, the city is currently accepting bids for new legal representation.
The council originally decided to search for new legal representation after Councilman Alan Lowery brought the item to the June 22, 2017 Executive Committee meeting. On July 7, the council voted on the item and it failed, ending the search for an attorney.
The item came to the council again at the Feb. 13 City Council meeting, this time from Councilman Jeff Snow.
City Manager Brian Watkins provided the council with a draft request for proposal (RFP) at the March 22 Committee of the Whole meeting that outlines the criteria for a new attorney and how to submit a bid. Since the council did not have the opportunity to read the draft prior to the discussion, the item was moved forward to the April 2 Executive Committee meeting where the council will discuss the election process.
According to Watkins, if the council comes to an agreement at the Executive Committee meeting on how to proceed with the selection procedure, he can issue the RFP the next day. It will take approximately 3-4 weeks to collect bids.
Firms interested in providing services for the city can obtain full bid documents on the city’s website and submit one original and four copies of all documents to the city’s purchasing department.
The city will then review the bids, conduct interviews, and send the most qualified applicant to the City Council for decision.
“If we get one or two, then it’s easier to just [interview] them all at one time,” Watkins said. “If we get 15, then what I’d recommend to you is to get a review committee together, look at them and down select to a smaller group.”
Factors such as capability, experience and the ability to work within established time and budget constraints will be taken into consideration, according to the RFP.
The RFP details the format of the submitted content, the attorney qualifications, possible conflicts of interest, indication of fees, the scope of services and a criteria rubric.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: City revists bid for new attorney