Board approves three-month loaned-employee contract with Burns & McDonnell for engineering staff augmentation, 6–1

The Board of Directors voted to approve a loan-to-personnel agreement with Burns & McDonnell Engineering to provide a loaned employee to the City’s engineering department for staff augmentation.

Staff introduced the item as a modified, three-month agreement intended to carry the City through the end of the calendar year rather than the originally proposed six-month term. The cost was presented as “not to exceed $155,001.21 and 80¢.”

At the meeting, Director George Casales asked staff to explain the staff-augmentation arrangement. Engineering staff (Jeff) said the loaned employee would act as a city employee, working daily on Streets and Bridges and drainage capital-improvement projects. Staff said they had interviewed one candidate but were continuing recruitment for a permanent hire.

Director Christina Kasavage and others asked about benchmarks and reporting; staff said the loaned employee would work through the City’s projects and maintain daily interaction with in-house staff. Board members also asked about contract termination: staff recalled the agreement included notice language (they mentioned a five-day notice), and board members noted some ambiguity about the notice period during the discussion.

A motion to adopt the resolution authorizing the agreement passed with six votes in favor and one opposed. The roll call recorded Settle, Martin, Rigo, Good, Kemp and Christina Kasavitz (yes), and George Katzabis (no). The resolution language as presented authorized staff to execute the agreement for the stated term and not-to-exceed amount.

Ending

Staff said the agreement can be discontinued if the City hires a permanent candidate before the end of the three-month term; the Board approved final authorization to proceed.