Pension board keeps current counsel while launching RFP for legal services

The Police Officers Retirement Plan Pension Board voted to keep its existing legal firm, Sugarman Susskind, on contract while beginning a formal request-for-proposal process to solicit competing bids.

Administrator Troy told trustees the board last discussed its legal-services options at the prior meeting and outlined two choices: reappoint the current firm or run an RFP that would invite candidates such as former counsel Pedro Herrera or other firms. After discussion about stewardship and competitive bidding, a trustee moved to continue with Sugarman Susskind while initiating an RFP; the motion received a second and passed by voice vote.

Troy said Foster and Foster (the administrator’s consulting firm) will prepare and submit plan documents required for the RFP and that the board’s outside attorney will draft and send the RFP; he estimated the attorney-side cost at $3,000 and said the administrator’s time to compile materials carries no charge. "He is going to bullet point each firm," Troy said of the attorney’s forthcoming evaluation materials, adding that the RFP will ask responders to state whether they will attend meetings in person or virtually.

Trustees discussed whether in-person attendance should be required for hearings that involve pension benefits and disability requests; several trustees supported virtual attendance for routine meetings but in-person representation for formal hearings. Former counsel Pedro Herrera, who previously spoke at the board’s last meeting, confirmed he could indicate in his proposal whether he would attend in person.

The board directed staff to begin the RFP process and asked the attorney to produce a comparative summary of proposals for trustees to review before a final retention decision.