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Isanti council approves interim financial services contract with Abdo amid plan to issue RFP
Summary
Facing a temporary vacancy in the finance director position, the Isanti City Council approved a contract with Abdo for interim financial services (up to 10 hours/week at $3,900/week) and directed staff to issue an RFP for longer-term services.
City Administrator reported to the Isanti City Council on March 4 that the city's finance director position is vacant following the director's passing and that the city needs interim financial support to meet reporting and budget deadlines.
The administrator said the city had solicited a proposal from Abdo, which previously provided interim financial services to Isanti in 2016. The proposed engagement would provide up to 10 hours per week of consulting as directed by the city administrator, beginning as early as March 24 and potentially running through Aug. 29. The quoted cost in the packet was $3,900 per week; the agreement allows for more or fewer hours as requested and contains a client termination clause requiring 30 days' written notice.
Council members asked whether the city should put the work out for competitive bid. One council member suggested an RFP to test price and fit; staff said an RFP could take about 30 days to run. The city administrator said she would prepare an RFP and bring it back to council for approval on April 1. Council members also discussed relying on the assistant finance staff and keeping the current finance model intact while the interim consultant supports reporting, budgets and the capital-improvement plan.
Councilmember Lundin made a motion to approve the Abdo interim-services agreement pending staff finalization; the motion was seconded and carried 5-0. Staff will execute the agreement to begin interim services and also prepare an RFP to be considered at the April 1 council meeting.
The agreement language supplied with the packet indicates Abdo would be available for remote and limited on-site work (on-site services billed additionally), and the city administrator said the city hopes to fill the finance director position by July 1 but wanted continuity through the budget cycle if a hire is delayed.
