Apopka's City Council meeting on July 19th addressed the issue of a sole-source provider, the Institute for Human Development (IHD), that works with the City's supervisors and management to improve communication skills and performance in the workplace.
Sole-source or no-bid contracts are often reserved for suppliers and contractors offering unique services or expertise. But sometimes, these types of agreements raise questions about transparency and fairness.
According to the City Council, payments to IHD were not to exceed $50,000, but projections for future service put the bill at $54,000. Approximately $36,000 in payments have been committed so far.
Joe Patton, the human resource director, asked for an increased payment threshold and said it would make sense to continue working with the IHD. He said the company understands and has a history with Apopka's workplace culture.
"The individual that is doing the training has a pulse of this organization, so to speak," Patton said. "That individual has a sense of what our culture is, has a sense of where we're trying to get to."
Commissioner Kyle Becker named management and supervisors that the IHD had trained in the past twelve months, including Mayor Bryan Nelson and Fire Chief Sean Wylam. He asked Patton how many hours the IHD had invested in training and consulting services.
"He's invested a lot of hours," Patton said.
"So he's not gone past $50,000 in terms of time and effort already?" Becker asked.
"I'm not sure about that…" Patton answered.
Commissioner Diane Velazquez said that the upcoming session would cost $18,000 and asked how the company bills the City.
"So you're presenting it to us, but I just felt that the lead-in package should have broken down how many hours he has invested in our City with the staff and what's the benchmark," Velazquez said.
"It's not based on the hours," Patton said. "It's based on the program that he has."
Becker said that a "statement of work" should have been provided that detailed employment expectations in a contract.
"I don't know what the original scope of work was," Becker said. "We've heard piecemeal about what he's done in terms of services."
The City Council voted in favor of tabling the item and requested that Robert Spencer, the owner and training consultant of IHD, be asked to attend the next Council meeting so that they would have the opportunity to question him.
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Two weeks later, Apopka's City Council reconvened, and Spencer appeared to be questioned and have the chance to persuade them to continue his services.
"We met with each of you this past week to give more information on where we're going," Spencer said. "We're hoping the focus is a cultural change in the leadership, and it's a continuing process."
Staff provided the Council with information detailing progress from the last year, and Becker was concerned that six of the 19 trainees had resigned from their position.
"Because there is a lack of a strategic plan or "vision," it leaves them "chasing a moving target," Becker said.
"Some of that is you can lead a horse to water but can't make them drink," Spencer said.
"…Right now, it feels like we're trying to fit a square peg into a round hole," Becker responded. "Whereas our strategy should dictate whether we want round or square pegs."
Becker said that he believes the City should use an evaluated source instead of a sole source. He said that if the IHD is the best option, Spencer would be rehired to continue his work.
Mayor Bryan Nelson asked if Spencer could share with the City Council about previous clients whose employees he trained.
Spencer said he has 30 years of experience with companies. He listed Lockheed Martin, Walt Disney World, Disney University, AdventHealth, Orlando Regional, AT&T, and Arthur Andersen.
Commissioner Nick Nesta wanted to table the resolution until a strategy could be developed.
"Where do we see this going in one year, two years, five years, ten years, 30 years?" Nesta asked.
Becker suggested that they make a motion to table the resolution until the service was complete and that he would like to receive the results of an evaluation from employees who underwent training to determine whether they should continue to hire the IHD.
The City Council voted unanimously to table the resolution until those conditions are met.
