After contested scoring, board selects Ronald L. Book firm as legislative representative 4‑3
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Summary
Following presentations and a board scoring exercise, the Solid Waste Authority selected Ronald L. Book’s firm as its legislative representative after a 4‑3 roll‑call vote; board debate centered on pricing, hourly billing, local preference (SBE), and whether the full board should perform scoring.
The Solid Waste Authority board voted 4‑3 to select Ronald L. Book’s firm as its legislative representation firm under RFP 26‑204, directing staff to execute a contract subject to legal review.
Staff said three firms submitted proposals: Becker (Becker Poliakoff) at $63,000 per year, GrayRobinson at $69,000 per year, and Ronald L. Book at $90,000 per year. Board members questioned differences in pricing structures, specifically whether proposals included monthly retainers, capped annual amounts, or hourly billing for work outside the stated scope. Staff and applicants clarified that the price proposals represented retainer‑style fees while hourly rates — provided for services outside the core legislative scope — are not included in the RFP evaluation.
Representatives from Becker (Ellen Bogdanoff) described more than a decade of service for the authority and a broad Tallahassee team; Ronald L. Book emphasized a flat retainer model and said his firm does not bill hourly add‑ons. Board members debated whether the board should have served as the selection committee and whether local preference (an SBE subconsultant included by Becker) should factor in. Commissioners delivered split views on whether national reach or longstanding local relationships were more important.
Board members individually recorded rankings using staff score sheets. Staff averaged the rankings and reported Becker as the highest ranked by average score, but the board then voted between the top two finalists (Becker and Ronald Book). In the roll call, four members voted for Ronald Book and three for Becker, and the board directed staff to enter into a contract with Ronald Book subject to legal review.
