FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. — The Fort Myers Beach selection advisory committee voted unanimously Jan. 15 to recommend Malden and Jenkins as the town’s top choice to perform the municipal financial audit and to forward its top-three list to the town manager for negotiation and to the town council for final approval.

Amy Baker, Fort Myers Beach town clerk, opened the 1:34 p.m. meeting and read the RFP identifier (RFP-26-04-FN) and key dates: the request was issued Dec. 8, 2025, with proposals due Jan. 7, 2026, at 2 p.m. After reviewing mandatory submission requirements and scoring criteria, the committee considered five proposals received: Malden and Jenkins; Citrin Cooperman; Carr, Riggs & Ingram; Grow; and Hill, Barth & King.

Why it matters: The town is procuring auditors for the fiscal-year audit that ends Sept. 30. The committee’s recommendation accelerates the process so the town manager can begin negotiations; if negotiations with the top-ranked firm fail, the manager will move to the second- or third-ranked firm.

Committee members discussed the RFP’s six mandatory elements — including Florida licensure, recent experience with comparable Florida government entities, continuing professional education for personnel, absence of conflicts of interest, a recent external quality-control review, and adherence to submission instructions. Members flagged concerns about Hill, Barth & King: a committee member said Hill’s references were largely university bodies rather than municipal clients, and another said Hill’s external quality-control review showed deficiencies tied to government work.

After discussion, Vice Mayor Scott Safford moved that the four other firms proceed to scoring and that Hill, Barth & King be excluded from the ranking step; the motion passed unanimously by voice vote.

Committee members then stated individual rankings, repeatedly citing familiarity with the town and prior performance — including Malden and Jenkins’ work during recent hurricane-related needs — as reasons to favor the local firm. Amy Baker read the compiled totals: Malden and Jenkins 593; Citrin Cooperman 548; Carr, Riggs & Ingram 532; Grow 509; Hill, Barth & King 368. The committee voted unanimously on roll call to forward Malden and Jenkins (No. 1), Citrin Cooperman (No. 2) and Carr, Riggs & Ingram (No. 3) to the town manager for negotiation.

A committee member asked why the audit process started late this year; Baker said turnover in contracts staff and an earlier underperforming contracts person delayed the procurement, and that town staff expects to start the audit work promptly. The clerk indicated the recommendation will go to the Feb. 2 town council meeting and, depending on negotiations, an award could return to council at its Feb. 17 meeting.

The committee members recorded for the meeting were: Scott Safford (vice mayor), Jack Mason, Dave Sandberg, Brian Thomas, Debbie Dutton and Mary Anne Shealy; Barbara Puffer was noted as excused. The meeting adjourned at 1:54 p.m.