Environmental attorney explains consultant, lobbying and grant strategy
Summary
Ruth Holmes, the city's environmental attorney, defended hiring consultants and a lobbyist to secure grant support and technical studies, saying outside expertise is needed for anticipated Army Corps or LOSUM-type planning events and for EPA grant procurement.
Ruth Holmes told the commission her FY27 budget request reflects the actual cost to engage technical consultants the city needs for environmental analyses and grant-ready studies. "When I came on board City of Stewart, I was able to use already allocated money from the previous year to hire consultants," she said, and she explained that consultants (engineers and scientific specialists) are costly but necessary when the city must act quickly to pursue grant opportunities or respond to regulatory planning efforts.
Holmes also described using a lobbyist to secure support letters for an EPA grant and contacts with congressional offices. Commissioners asked staff to provide a clearer environmental-plan priority list and to consider whether some consultant work could transfer to an in-house position in the longer term.
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