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Council cautioned against formally delegating consultant choice to CAC members
Summary
Staff and the Town Attorney warned that formally appointing CAC members or involving them directly in consultant selection could create conflicts of interest and Brown Act obligations; staff suggested informal consultation instead.
David Kelly told the Council that involving CAC members as formal participants in the consultant review could create impartiality concerns because at least one CAC member’s firm submitted a proposal to the RFQ. "Involving CAC members directly in the selection process could create concerns regarding impartiality and public trust," Kelly said.
Town Attorney Miriam Sleiman reinforced the procedural constraints, noting that formally adding private citizens to a committee can convert an ad hoc group into a Brown Act body and trigger public‑meeting and notice requirements. Council members agreed on a compromise approach: a two‑member Council Subcommittee composed solely of Council members, with the ability to consult informally with CAC members to benefit from their expertise without creating formal committee membership.
