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Commission debates hiring preservation grant writer versus using city grant writer
Summary
Commission members proposed funding a preservation-specific grant writer to prepare multiple Roberts House grant applications; city staff flagged procurement rules and noted that the commission already has an in-house grant writer who commissioners said has been difficult to access.
WOODLAND PARK, Colo. — Members of the Historic Preservation Commission discussed hiring a preservation grant writer to prepare a sequence of grant applications for the Roberts House and debated whether to instead rely on the city—s in-house grant writer.
Commission member Linda (Historic Preservation Commission member) said the preservation consultant Charisse Busma quoted $1,500—,000 to prepare a planning grant application and could typically prepare the application in three to four weeks. "For the planning grant, it's between 1,500 and 2,000," Linda said.
Several commissioners said they would prefer using the city—s in-house grant writer, Kimberly, because that would avoid consultant fees. Commissioner Smitty (City Council liaison to the HPC) and others said they had tried repeatedly to engage Kimberly and experienced delays or unresponsiveness in past grant work.
City staff member Karen cautioned that using commission budget funds for consultant services may trigger the city—s purchasing and expenditure policies; some budget money had been earmarked as match for other grant work, not grant-writing fees. "One is what is our purchasing policy?" Karen said, noting that the commission may need more than one quote depending on the dollar amount.
No formal procurement decision was made. Commissioners directed staff to check the budget and procurement rules and to keep the option of hiring a preservation grant writer open if the in-house writer cannot meet timelines.
Ending: Commissioners said they want the planning grant submitted promptly and agreed to explore both the in-house and consultant options while ensuring compliance with city purchasing rules.
