Ethics Commission extends executive‑director search deadline and delegates vendor selection to chair, vice chair

The San Francisco Ethics Commission voted to extend the deadline for proposals in the executive‑director recruitment and authorized a special committee of the chair and vice chair to interview and vet search firms, after HR reported receiving a single response from Alliance Resources Consulting LLC.

Staff said $18,383 (rounded in discussion to $18,400) had been encumbered to pay for recruitment and that the Alliance proposal was in the $20,000 range; public commenters urged negotiation of scope and consideration of additional expenses such as candidate travel (the Alliance proposal notes expenses could add several thousand dollars). Commissioners debated whether to cap the fee at $20,000 or allow up to $25,000 if justified by expanded services.

Commissioner Andrews moved to extend the submission deadline to allow other city‑vetted firms to submit and to authorize the chair and vice chair to conduct informal informational interviews with similar ethics bodies and prequalified firms; the motion was seconded. After public comment and discussion about a short extension period, the motion to extend and proceed with vetting carried unanimously, 5–0. The commission later adopted a separate motion delegating to the chair and vice chair the authority to select the recruiting firm on behalf of the commission; that delegation also carried 5–0.

Public commenters and former grand jurors urged broader outreach to ethics commissions in other jurisdictions, clearer job descriptions, and verification that recruitment fees include or exclude travel and other expenses. Commissioners said the first step will be for the chair and vice chair to vet interested firms and seek any needed extensions for others in the prequalified pool; staff will report back to the commission at the June meeting.