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Center Point council tables social-media contracts after members raise fairness concerns
Summary
Councilors heard three social-media proposals and several presenters on July 2, but raised procurement fairness questions because one proposal had been discussed earlier; Attorney Hendricks recommended setting deadlines and legal review, and the council voted to table decisions pending a work session and attorney review.
Center Point, Ala. — After hearing in-person presentations from multiple vendors, the City Council on July 2 agreed to delay selecting a social-media manager, citing procurement fairness concerns and the need for a legal review.
Two vendors presented proposals during public comment and one council member said he had earlier solicited a social-media solution. Several council members said that receiving proposals at different times can create an unfair advantage and that future solicitations should set a submission deadline and allow the attorney to review contracts before a vote. "An effort to promote fairness in any bid process ... is to make sure that all of the proposal any proposals are submitted before a deadline date," Attorney Hendricks told the council.
Council President Pro Tem Tim Delo and other council members favored taking the three proposals to a work session and allowing Attorney Hendricks to craft or review contract language, including a trial or termination clause. The council voted unanimously to table the item and direct administration and legal staff to prepare a fair, transparent process and to include the item in upcoming budget discussions if needed.
What happens next: The three submitted proposals will be reviewed by the city attorney and discussed at a council work session prior to final council action; any contract selected would later be scheduled for budget alignment and formal approval.
