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Fort Pierce commissioners approve $63,347 holiday-lighting bill after debate over contracting and process failures
Summary
The City Commission approved a $63,347 payment to Lighting by Design for Marina Square holiday lighting after commissioners criticized procurement missteps, an expired contract and work performed before commission authorization.
The City Commission of Fort Pierce on Oct. 6 approved a $63,347 expenditure to Lighting by Design (West Palm Beach) for installing holiday lighting at Marina Square after a sharp exchange over procurement procedures and an expired contract.
The vote came after commissioners aired concerns about how the project was awarded and completed without going through an open solicitation after a contract expired in November 2024. Commissioner (last name) Johnson voted no; Commissioners Broderick and Mayor Linda Hudson voted yes.
Why it matters: Commissioners said the matter exposed a breakdown in purchasing controls at a time the city is operating with slim reserves. They asked city management to tighten RFP and approval procedures to prevent similar oversights.
City Manager Chess told the commission he discovered an invoice from the vendor in June 2025 and that the contract on file…
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