The High Springs City Commission voted Aug. 28 to terminate its contract with Gilchrist Law Firm for special magistrate services and to direct city staff to pursue a contract with the other bidder that responded to the city's recent competitive solicitation.

City attorney Kirsten (last name not given) told the commission the Gilchrist Law Firm's invoices had been substantially higher than expected. She said staff had inserted a termination-for-convenience clause in the contract and recommended exercising that clause because the firm's billing had far exceeded prior estimates: staff had expected roughly $15,000 but had already spent well above that amount for work described in the hearings. Kirsten explained that line-by-line invoicing and hourly rates across multiple attorneys had led to unexpectedly large charges.

Commissioners discussed next steps if the contract were terminated. Staff told the commission the city could either pause use of a special magistrate when there was nothing pending, or, because the procurement process had already produced an alternate bidder, negotiate with that bidder under the city's procurement rules. Staff said the alternate bidder had expressed continued interest and was the agency staff had originally recommended.

A commissioner moved to terminate the current contract with the special magistrate and directed staff to seek to negotiate with the alternate respondent. The motion was seconded and approved by a voice vote with all commissioners present voting in favor.

Staff will notify the Gilchrist Law Firm per the contract's termination-for-convenience clause and proceed to negotiate a new contract with the alternate bidder; staff noted there were no imminent matters pending that required an immediate magistrate assignment.

The commission took public comment, voted to approve termination and instructed staff to return negotiated contract terms for the commission's approval.