Committee amends Guardsmark security contract, forwards ordinance to full Board

The Budget & Finance Committee voted to recommend an amended ordinance authorizing a Human Services Agency contract with Guardsmark GP for security services and forwarded the item to the full Board.

Dave Curdo, HSA director of contracts, asked the committee to waive an administrative‑code restriction and approve the contract for a one‑year term with four automatic one‑year renewals, in a package introduced with a not‑to‑exceed figure listed at $20,215,000.

The budget analyst, Mr. Rose, recommended amending the not‑to‑exceed amount downward (to about $19,326,000) and reported a projected general‑fund savings of roughly $302,001.71 if the amendment is adopted. The committee approved the ordinance as amended.

Public comment included sharp objections. Kesnar Butis, representing cybersecurity interests, argued Guardsmark “essentially now refuses to sign the contract that it competed for” and urged denial or re‑award, saying the contractor’s requested yearly opt‑out undermines competitive fairness and threatens worker continuity. Nils Whelan, CEO of the incumbent contractor, said some officers are being paid less under Guardsmark’s initial payrolls than they earned under the prior contractor and urged the committee to reconsider.

HSA responded that an emergency contract was put in place Sept. 1, that entry‑level guards are being paid $13 an hour consistent with the contract scoring, and that a 90‑day review ending Sept. 30 will determine permanent employment offers. A motion by Supervisor McRaeamy to accept the budget analyst’s recommendations carried and the ordinance, as amended to lower the not‑to‑exceed amount, was recommended to the full Board for adoption on Nov. 25.

The committee record shows the contracts office will return to report on cost‑savings and implementation after the contract is in effect.