Rumbles

Some interesting snippets yesterday on the town counsel issue, not only to be found in the comments to the blog but elsewhere.

Why bother with an RFP is a common question I have heard.  Its timing has been called into question.  Some object to some of the reasoning.  Some even wonder why do the process if you don't intend to follow the process. Why is always a legitimate question.

The first answer is any contract for services needs to be periodically reviewed.  It is an absolute must in my opinion.  Certain contracts are exempt from the procurement laws.  There are certain services the rigid laws governing procurement recognize cannot and/or should not be automatically tied into the "lowest" qualified bidder criteria.

While the same may be exempt, public officials have an obligation to insure matters/arrangements are always being handled in the best interest of the town. No arrangement should exist without at least a thorough review every three to five years in my opinion.  Some will disagree with that time frame.  That is fine.  Tweak it how you wish, but a review is a must.

It should be a review that entails more than a simple matter of opinion, and the decision should be based on reasonable criteria.  There are tangible and intangible factors that should be weighed. 

Take whatever reasoning you may want, be as critical as you desire, but for me, there was absolutely nothing wrong with putting out an RFP for legal services.  In fact, the only wrong reason I can imagine is if someone voted for doing so without the intention of a thorough review, rating and analysis of the proposals to be submitted.  

I might agree that this particular exercise of the process has the ear markings of a dog and pony show at this point, but such agreement would most likely be for entirely different reasons than the thoughts some of you probably have.

The choice for town counsel sits with the Board of Selectmen.  The discussion process on how to make it, review presents arrangements, and who to bring it, sits with the selectmen, and the procedure to follow sat with and should be followed by the decision of the board.

As to issues for motivation, the logical aspect of me, assuming I still maintain some semblance of sanity, dictates equally illogical components of arguments on both sides.

Moving on in the same direction, but on a different street.

On the heels of the town counsel debate we heard about the several request for use of town counsel.  Seems we are now seeing some attempts to rein in legal costs by setting caps on service requests. Might work out, as long as someone is keeping count.

Important issues.  Most of the things dealt with have some level of importance, but the most important topic, which gets discussed but not ever quite dealt with is the finances and policies for the same.  Every year I hold out hope.  Maybe this year.

Lots of maybes this year and for next, and the year after that.  Maybe, just maybe.

Anyway, I am out of time.  Till tomorrow. Maybe.

Be safe.