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Letter to the editor

Cost of consultant questioned

Commissioners say there's not enough to do to justify a nearly $1, 700-a-day fee.

By NICK JOHNSON
Published June 6, 2007

ST. PETE BEACH - Spending has become a sore subject for city officials and residents throughout the state, as everyone awaits the final word on property tax reform.

Meanwhile some city commissioners are upset about the cost of a moderator hired for the Commission Budget and Strategic Planning Workshop meetings.

"We don't have an open checkbook anymore, " said Harry Metz, city commissioner.

He is one of three commissioners who has expressed concern with the hiring of Barbara Clegg, a registered corporate coach who serves as a moderator during the planning workshop. She was present last month and will return Monday for the follow-up meeting.

The main gripe is her fee, nearly $1, 700 for the day of each meeting.

The first meeting was a forum for commissioners to voice their opinions and ideas about the upcoming budget and future policy. This will be used next week to prioritize and shape the commission's goals for the year.

City Manager Mike Bonfield hired Clegg through the Florida Institute of Government at USF to help keep the meetings focused and on topic.

"It's tough for any one of the elected officials to moderate these meetings and it's tough for me to moderate them, " Bonfield said.

Virginia Herrell, director of the institute at USF, said it was common practice for governments to hire outside moderators for this type of workshop.

Commissioner Ed Ruttencutter sent an e-mail questioning Bonfield about Clegg's contribution and cost, saying he didn't think she participated very much.

Metz agrees, "I don't think there was that much for her to do, " he said. "As a commission we can handle ourselves, I mean we're grown-ups."

Mayor Ward Friszolowski wasn't sure they could.

"I'd like to think that we wouldn't need one, " he said, but pointed to the commission meetings he chairs, which often run well past midnight.

Commissioner Linda Chaney agreed with the thinking, but not paying more than $3, 000 for someone to act as a traffic cop.

Bonfield said he made the decision to hire Clegg in order to benefit the commission. He didn't think the expense was that much in the grand scheme of things.

"If in the future the commission doesn't want to have a moderator, I guess we won't have one, " he said.

Herrell said the institute provides moderators for reasonable prices, depending on the individual's experience and the amount of work involved. She said Clegg was very experienced.

Nick Johnson can be reached at nickjohnson@sptimes.com or 893-8361.

[Last modified June 5, 2007, 22:30:49]