Wayne County committee reviews one-year Korn Ferry contract; commissioners seek clarity on 20%/30% fee language

Wayne County staff presented a one-year comparable-source professional services contract with Korn Ferry, an executive-search firm, to assist with recruiting for hard-to-fill positions in Management & Budget.

Janet Colsar, chief of staff for Management & Budget, said the proposed contract is a one-year agreement estimated to cover searches for up to six positions and that Korn Ferry had been used previously for difficult-to-recruit searches. Commissioners sought clarity about the fee structure. Commissioner Peterson Mayberry asked whether the contract specified a 30% processing fee or a 20% fee in certain circumstances; counsel read contract language stating the contractor will receive a fee not to exceed 30% of total first-year base compensation for each hire and that the fee shall not exceed 20% where the county sourced the candidate.

Staff said they would provide the specific criteria that determine whether the 20% or 30% rate applies and that procurement will confirm historical practice. Commissioners also raised procurement concerns about cumulative contract amounts when similar services are provided under separate contracts. Counsel and staff said they would memorialize the procurement interpretation in writing and ensure future contract submissions reflect cumulative amounts.

The Korn Ferry contract item was held to be included in the omnibus motion at the end of the meeting and was passed as part of items 3 through 9 in the committee’s final vote.

Ending: Commissioners asked for written clarifications on fee criteria, confirmation whether internal referrals historically incurred fees, and a written procurement memo that clarifies how similar contracts are treated for cumulative limits.