The Lake Placid Town Council on Jan. 12 debated how to proceed after an RFP for professional legal services returned one application that staff said met all submission requirements. Council members split over whether to interview the single compliant firm or to re-open the solicitation so a second applicant could cure deficiencies and submit a complete package.

Councilwoman Colleen Charles pressed for a transparent vetting process similar to the town’s recent town-administrator search: each applicant would be interviewed individually, council members would fill out scoring sheets, and the town clerk would compile the results. "We should interview them individually and then score them," Charles said.

Mayor John Holbrook opposed changing the rules in midstream. "I think this is a bad idea. Changing the rules in the middle of the game is never good," he said during the meeting.

Town Administrator (name as in transcript) and staff told council the RFP required specific documents — references, articles of incorporation and proof of liability insurance — and that one submission lacked those items. Staff and the town attorney said accepting an incomplete response could jeopardize the town’s procurement record and future RFPs.

Several members of the public urged the council to honor the firm that followed the instructions. Builder Ken LeBlanc said, "If I couldn't follow basic instructions to put my insurance certificates and my references in, I wasn't going to be the builder." Others, including Dustin Woods, said reopening the RFP sends a negative message about the town’s professionalism.

After extended discussion, the council approved a motion to re-advertise the RFP using the same document, set a new time‑certain response date of Feb. 15, and direct staff to include prior applicants in the re-submission so they can cure any deficiencies and be considered. The motion also directed staff to set up individual interviews of each applicant with the mayor and council members and to place the item on the agenda promptly after interviews are complete.

Council members and staff said the goal is to preserve procurement integrity while ensuring the council has a chance to evaluate qualified firms in person. The process and schedule are expected to return to a future meeting for the council’s final decision.