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High Springs approves Gilchrist Law Firm for special magistrate services, staff authorized to finalize contract
Summary
At its April 24 meeting the High Springs City Commission awarded RFP 2025-04 for special magistrate services to Gilchrist Law Firm and authorized city staff to negotiate a contract. Commissioners discussed candidate availability, insurance, travel reimbursement and whether magistrate hearings should be in person.
The High Springs City Commission voted unanimously April 24 to award RFP 2025-04 for special magistrate services to Gilchrist Law Firm and authorized city staff to negotiate and finalize a contract.
The vote followed a staff report and presentations from two bidders. City staff recommended a firm with multiple available attorneys to avoid disruption if a single magistrate left; police leadership said either bidder would be acceptable but noted advantages to firms that could provide more than one attorney. The commission debated whether travel time should be reimbursed and whether hearings should be held in person to protect due process.
Commissioners and staff raised past problems: an earlier selection failed during contract negotiations when an applicant initially refused to provide required malpractice and general liability insurance. Staff told the commission that the current round of bids includes proof of insurance from both firms. The police chief said having a single attorney who stays current on backlog can help continuity, but commissioners preferred a firm with multiple attorneys available so hearings would not stall if an attorney left.
Representatives from both firms answered questions about locations and remote hearings. Gilchrist’s representative said the firm holds a GSA schedule and SBA small-business status and that its rates are pre‑negotiated under that schedule. A representative for the other bidder said their firm already serves as a magistrate for other entities and could appear in person when needed.
Commissioners discussed a specific operational detail raised by staff: whether travel time for an attorney traveling from a distant office should be billed at the hourly magistrate rate. City staff said travel reimbursement would be a negotiable contract term and later clarified that Gilchrist indicated it would not request travel reimbursement. The commission therefore added authority for staff to finish negotiations that would reflect those terms.
Motion language recorded in the meeting authorized the city to accept Gilchrist Law Firm for special magistrate services and directed city staff to negotiate the contract. The motion passed with all commissioners voting in favor.
The commission said it expects magistrate hearings to clear a small backlog related to red‑light and speed camera contests and to resume regular enforcement actions once a magistrate arrangement is in place.
