Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Contracts Procurement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves two‑year Maximus extension and directs staff to plan in‑house transition
Summary
The Orange County Board of Supervisors approved a two‑year extension of the county's contract with Maximus for case management services and directed staff to prepare a plan to transition the work in house, including a one‑year progress report; the vote was 3–1 with one recusal.
The Orange County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 24 approved a two‑year amendment to renew the county's contract with Maximus US Services Inc. for case management services, while directing staff to develop a plan to bring the work in house.
Vice Chair Katrina Foley moved the board's direction: "I'll move that we direct staff to transition case management services in house within 2 years," and asked for a one‑year progress report on the phase‑in. The motion, which incorporated the staff recommendation to extend the contract while directing a transition plan, was seconded and carried with three supervisors voting yes, one voting no and one recusal.
Chair Chaffee said he would vote against the extension, arguing the board should limit the renewal to one year and pursue an earlier in‑house option. Supervisor Janet Wynne announced she would recuse herself from the discussion and vote; the record shows she had received a contribution of more than $500 from Maximus over the past 12 months and therefore did not participate in deliberations on the item.
Supporters of the two‑year timeline said the additional time is needed to hire and train staff, obtain facilities and equipment, and allow for orderly transition. Supervisor Wagner said staffing and fiscal constraints — including the county hiring freeze — made a two‑year option more realistic, and the board added a requirement that staff return with a progress report after the first year.
County staff told the board the extension could run through June 30, 2027, as written in the agreement language, and that the contract contains options and logistical constraints that would make a rapid turn‑over difficult without risk to service continuity.
Outcome: The motion passed 3–1 with one abstention/recusal. The board directed staff to prepare a plan and report back after one year on progress toward transitioning case management services in house.
What happens next: Staff will develop a strategic financial and operational plan to phase positions in, brief affected offices, and return to the board at key milestones; the contract remains in force while the transition plan is implemented.
