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Fort Pierce hires Renee Narlock & Associates for city-attorney search in 3'1 vote after heated commission exchange
Summary
The commission voted 3'1 to retain Renee Narlock & Associates to conduct the executive search for a new city attorney; the contract cap listed in the agenda not to exceed $30,950 and the firm's quoted price was $30,009.50. The item drew debate over interim coverage, timeline and a request that recruitment costs be fully itemized.
The City Commission approved a contract with Renee Narlock & Associates to conduct the executive search for the next Fort Pierce city attorney after a contentious discussion about cost, timing and interim coverage.
HR Manager Jared Sorensen summarized three bids: Colin Basinger & Associates quoted $34,500 (12-week timeline); GovHR/MGT quoted $28,000 plus $1,200 per visit (bringing a practical total of about $31,600 if multiple visits were used); and Renee Narlock & Associates quoted $30,009.50 and included three on-site visits in that price. The published agenda listed the recommended award as "not to exceed $30,950." Sorensen recommended Renee Narlock based on price and previous work on the police-chief recruitment.
Commissioners debated how long the search would be open to applicants, whether to use an interim attorney while searching, and where the money would come from in the budget. Jared Sorensen said the firm estimated a 16-week process but could accelerate if candidates were already in the pipeline and that staff would return with a detailed timeline.
Commissioner Broderick opposed awarding the contract and asked that "every penny expended" on the replacement process be itemized and made public; the motion to award to Renee Narlock & Associates passed on a 3'1 vote (Broderick voted no; Commissioners Zadofsky, Gaines and Mayor Hudson voted yes).
Staff said the finance director has identified funds in the current budget to pay for the search and pledged to track and report recruitment expenses akin to the tracking used during the recent police chief search. HR will draft a job description and work with the selected firm to set recruitment milestones and an applicant timeline.
What's next: Staff will execute the contract, request a timeline and recruitment plan from Renee Narlock & Associates, draft an updated job description for commission review and provide periodic cost accounting for the search process.
