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EDC urges city to review purchasing policy; board passes resolution and backs Stafford First business symposium
Summary
After business owners complained that city purchasing rules steer work away from local vendors, the Stafford EDC approved a resolution asking city council to review purchasing procedures and unanimously supported the Stafford First Business Symposium and sponsorship plans.
The Stafford Economic Development Corporation voted on Feb. 25 to ask the Stafford City Council to examine city purchasing procedures and consider policy changes to encourage more local purchasing when appropriate, a resolution the board approved by voice vote.
Board members and local business representatives told the EDC they have heard complaints that the city—s purchasing policy and its use of buy-board vendors have reduced routine purchases from local shops. Chris Corda, representing Court Hardware, told the board: "What I find particularly egregious about it is that the city of Stafford, at least at this time, its primary source of revenue is sales tax, which is generated by the businesses." Corda said local vendors sometimes are told they cannot be used even when they offer comparable prices.
Board members said the issue is partly constrained by state procurement law but that the city can and does use authorized-vendor lists and other mechanisms. One staff member said there is flexibility under state law to favor a local vendor when quotes are within 5% of each other, and that an —authorized vendor— program has been used in prior years to make local companies available for city purchases.
After public and board discussion, a director read a draft resolution asking city council to investigate whether city purchasing policies could be adjusted "to align with the goal of shopping local." The board voted to adopt the draft resolution by voice vote. No roll-call tally was recorded in the meeting minutes for that motion.
Separately, the board considered and unanimously supported a proposal to sponsor and back a Stafford First business symposium tentatively scheduled for April 30 at the Stafford Center. The EDC—s chair or sponsor said the corporation would bring a final budget proposal to a future meeting; the organizer requested an initial authorization or expression of support so staff could proceed with logistics and potential requests for council consideration to waive or discount convention space fees.
Other votes at the meeting included approval of the Jan. 28, 2025 regular meeting minutes (motion passed with one abstention recorded) and routine adjournment.
The resolution text presented to the board asked the council to "investigate and make any necessary changes to city policies to align with the goal of shopping local," and the board recorded its vote to transmit the request to council. Board members and city staff said any formal policy changes would need to be consistent with state procurement law and auditing standards.
The board asked staff and council to review the purchasing policy implementation and to consider ways to improve communication to local businesses about authorized-vendor lists and how to become an authorized vendor.
