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Select Board approves RFQ for town counsel after town counsel asks for delay; board expands response timeline
Summary
After extended public comment from the town's attorney, the Mansfield Select Board voted to issue a request for qualifications for town counsel services but agreed to extend the public question and response schedule.
At its Jan. 29 meeting the Mansfield Select Board voted to issue a request for qualifications (RFQ) for town council legal services, after hearing a lengthy public comment from the town’s current counsel asking that the item be deferred for detailed discussion with the budget subcommittee.
Paul D’Rincis, who identified himself as Mansfield’s town counsel, told the board the chair’s report on legal services contained factual errors and argued that changing the town’s law firm while multiple lawsuits and contract matters remain active would be disruptive. He said the town had not discussed outstanding litigation or historical billing details with town counsel and urged a meeting with the budget subcommittee before moving forward.
During discussion board members and staff described the RFQ as a routine, qualification-based solicitation intended to ensure the town is following best practices and to provide comparative information to the public and elected officials. Board members said the request will be run as a qualifications-based solicitation (RFQ) rather than a price-only procurement and that the town’s procurement officer and special projects staff would be involved in the process. The board and staff noted that legal services are treated differently than commodity procurements and that transitions are typically managed so ongoing matters are not disrupted.
The board amended timeline deadlines to give respondents additional time to prepare and to allow a period for written questions and public answers. The board approved issuing the RFQ with the amended schedule by unanimous vote.
Ending
The town manager’s office and procurement staff will publish the RFQ, accept questions from potential respondents, and post answers publicly; board members said they expect any respondents to include specific experience on municipal labor and employment matters and litigation oversight. The board set a follow-up process that may include interviews of shortlisted firms.
