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After debate over local participation, Cumberland County approves contract with outside law firm for tax-foreclosure work and directs second RFP for backup
Summary
Following debate about local access and a backlog of tax-foreclosure files, the Cumberland County Board voted April 13 to approve a contract with Kanaya/Kenya Law Firm for foreclosure legal services and directed staff to issue a second RFP for additional local capacity; staff warned resolicitation would temporarily affect collections and cited a backlog of roughly 250–300 files.
Cumberland County commissioners on April 13 approved a contract award to Kanaya/Kenya Law Firm (transcript spelling varies) to provide legal services for tax-foreclosure matters and instructed staff to issue a second RFP to add additional capacity.
The item generated extended debate. Commissioner Adams objected to awarding the contract to a firm perceived as lacking a local office and asked that the county re-advertise locally so Cumberland attorneys could compete. "This is one of those firms that has no local presence here in Cumberland County," Adams said, and he urged re-advertising so local attorneys could participate.
Collections division manager Sharon Ford (speaker 8) and staff warned that rejecting the bids and resoliciting would delay collections and exacerbate an existing backlog. Ford said the county currently has a backlog of about 250–300 files at the attorney’s office and that delays could reduce collection rates. "We collect anywhere from a half [million] to $1,000,000 per year through the foreclosure process," Ford said, adding staff started the procurement in October and that resolicitation would have timing impacts.
Commissioner Tyson noted the benefits of local counsel but also highlighted Kanaya/Kenya Law Firm’s additional marketing resources and capacity to promote sales at auction—an advantage staff said could improve sale outcomes. Board members explored hybrid approaches: approve the recommended firm but in parallel issue another RFP to solicit additional local or other firms to expand capacity.
Commissioner Adams moved to approve the Kanaya/Kenya contract and to direct staff to issue a second RFP for backup capacity; the motion was seconded and passed on a unanimous hand/voice vote. Staff said the foreclosure attorney’s fees are typically recovered through the foreclosure process and require no general-fund appropriation; the board also discussed termination and performance provisions and the option to add additional firms in parallel to boost capacity.
The board recorded no roll-call vote; the outcome was approval of the contract award and direction to staff to solicit additional capacity.
