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Pembroke Park commission approves PR contract with Public Communicators Group after procurement debate
Summary
The commission approved Resolution 2025-009 to hire Public Communicators Group LLC for communications services, with debate over whether the contract should have been put out to bid or allowed under a professional-services exception.
The Town of Pembroke Park commission on March 13 approved Resolution 2025-009, authorizing an agreement with Public Communicators Group LLC to provide communications and public relations services for the town.
The measure passed on a roll call vote after extended debate over procurement procedure and the vendor selection. Commissioners discussed whether the engagement should be procured via a competitive process or could be awarded directly under the town’s procurement exceptions for professional services and for “best interests of the town.” The vote sheet shows all five commissioners voting to approve the resolution.
The dispute centered on procurement optics and past experiences. Clerk Commissioner Hodgkins said the contract should go out for public bid and that doing so “looks better,” while other commissioners and the town manager argued the firm’s work is a professional service and that the manager and attorney had cleared the contract language. The town attorney read procurement-code language into the record describing an exception for services whose value is “substantially measured by the professional competence of the person performing them” and for direct engagements made in the town’s best interest.
Evan Ross of Public Communicators Group, who spoke during the item, said he helped craft the scope with town staff and described the firm’s approach as quality-focused rather than price-focused. Town Manager Lynch and other commissioners said Ross’s relationships with media and past work for the town supported using the professional-services exception. Commissioner Jacobs cited prior experience with lower-cost firms that delivered poor service and said the town needed continuity for upcoming projects.
Commissioners acknowledged the optics concern of awarding a contract without a public RFP; several speakers said Ross may still bid if the town later solicits proposals. Lynch said the firm had already exceeded the hours in a prior limited contract but would not bill the town for hours worked beyond the prior limit while the new contract is approved.
The resolution authorizes the town manager to make non-substantial changes to the agreement and contains standard conflict and severability language. After the vote, Evan Ross thanked the commission and said he looked forward to promoting the town’s positive stories.
Votes at a glance for this item: Motion to approve Resolution 2025-009 — Outcome: approved; recorded votes (as announced at roll call): Vice Mayor Morissette — yes; Acting Clerk Commissioner Kashem — yes; Mayor Mohammed — yes; Clerk Commissioner Hodgkins — yes; Commissioner Jacobs — yes.
Why it matters: The contract formalizes ongoing public-relations support and raises recurring procurement questions about when municipalities may directly engage consultants under professional-services exceptions instead of soliciting competitive bids.
