Council authorizes consultant to bridge purchasing agent vacancy amid questions over hours and budget

The Troy City Council on March 20 authorized a consultant-services agreement with Nancy Piscus to support the Purchasing Office while the city continues recruitment for a permanent purchasing agent.

Council members described Piscus as having substantial institutional knowledge and recommended the consultant provide continuity and transfer of vendor contacts to a successor. "Nancy has a lot of institutional knowledge ... I've been really happy with her work and I hope that she will be able to impart to her successor," Council Member McLaren said.

Members repeatedly asked for clarity on the anticipated number of hours and the contract’s budget. Staff replied that the consultant would be paid from the controller’s consultant appropriation, but the meeting record does not specify the number of hours, the hourly rate or a total contract amount. Gabrielle (city staff) said the cost would be paid from the consultant line in the controller’s appropriation and that the department could propose a transfer or encumbrance if necessary.

Council members also noted the purchasing agent position is a civil-service role and that varying successor experience would change training needs. McLaren said continuity was important and described Nancy’s work ethic and attention to detail as reasons to support a temporary consulting arrangement.

Despite those assurances, several council members voiced concern that the consultant authorization currently lacked specific parameters. One council member said the authorization felt "wide open" because there was no defined estimate of hours or an exact encumbered amount for the consultant; proponents said they expected the arrangement to be efficient and not extensive.

The resolution authorizing the consultant agreement passed unanimously, 6-0. Council directed staff to return with more precise information on expected consultant hours and any required budget transfers or encumbrances.