Evaluation committee directs staff to negotiate town-attorney contract with TG Law

The Juno Beach evaluation committee on Oct. 17 directed staff to negotiate a contract with TG Law to serve as the town attorney and to bring that proposed agreement to the town council on Oct. 22. The committee reached the decision after interviews with three finalist firms and a re-ranking discussion that produced a majority consensus to move forward with TG Law.

Clerk Caitlin Copeland summarized the committee's scoring and proposed next steps before asking the committee if staff should proceed. After a brief re-calculation, committee members Didi, Diana, John and Mary Anne indicated agreement. Copeland told the group staff would "do their best to work with TG Law in drafting a contract to hopefully bring to the October 22 meeting." The committee then adjourned.

Members cited TG Law's pitch of hands-on, boutique service and pre-meeting preparation as factors. In their interview TG Law representatives said the firm's practice is to prepare elected officials and staff in advance and to provide operational tools (for example, decorum policies and administrative regulations) so meetings can run efficiently. "We believe it's our job to make you look like superstars," Gemma Torsivia said during the interview.

This directive authorizes staff to negotiate terms but is not a final contract award; the council will review any proposed contract at its Oct. 22 meeting. The committee's ranking discussion also reiterated the town's FY 25-26 legal budget figure as stated at the meeting ($190,000) and highlighted differences in proposals' pricing approaches and availability of hourly or retainer options.