Resident questions no-bid extension for Lamarb Services after council approves one-year contract

On June 1 at the Oak Park City Council meeting a resident raised concerns that a one-year contract extension with Lamarb Services LLC was not publicly bid, calling the award process "the appearance of nepotism." Council approved the extension by roll call, and staff said the contract extension is subject to city-attorney review.

During public comment Ken Sherman — who identified himself as a neighborhood resident — asked two questions: one about a DTE pole left across neighbors’ lawns, and a second about the procurement for Lamarb Services. "I noticed in the agenda packet that the contract was not put out for bids, which is the usual procedure ... and I wonder why. To me ... there's the appearance of nepotism awarding a contract without putting it out for bids to a recently retired OARK DPW employee," Sherman said.

Earlier in the evening the deputy city manager introduced the item as a one-year extension to the existing professional services contract with Lamarb Services LLC covering public-works and community projects, effective through May 31, 2027, and recommended council approval subject to final city-attorney review. Council approved the extension on a unanimous roll call.

The transcript does not record a substantive response from staff addressing the complaint about the competitive-bidding process. Materials in the meeting packet or a subsequent staff memo would be the appropriate sources to confirm whether the extension followed the city's procurement rules or used an allowable exemption.

What happens next: because the council approved the extension subject to city-attorney review, follow-up documentation (the contract, procurement justification and attorney sign-off) should be available in meeting records or by contacting city staff.