Title
A Resolution Of The City Commission Of The City Of Hollywood, Florida, Authorizing The Appropriate City Officials To Consent To The Assignment Of The FY 2018 Agreement With The Law Offices Of Paul T. Ryder, Jr., P.A. To Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman, P.L. (“Weiss Serota”); Authorizing The Appropriate City Officials To Execute The Contract For Consulting/Professional Services With Weiss Serota For Legal Services For FY 2019 In An Amount Not To Exceed $75,000.00.
Body
Staff Recommends: Approval of the Resolution.
Explanation:
The City has used the Law Offices of Paul T. Ryder, Jr., P.A. for legal services in various labor and employment matters, and the two attorneys who have provided such services are Paul T. Ryder, Jr., and Lindsey Ryder (the “Ryders”).
Section 38.40(C)(2) of the Code of Ordinances exempts from the competitive bid and competitive proposal requirements of the Purchasing Ordinance contracts for professional services. When professional services are purchased and the estimated annual amount to be paid therefor by the City exceeds $50,000.00, City Commission approval is required.
Resolution No. R-2017-300 approved an agreement (the “Ryder Agreement”) with the Law Offices of Paul T. Ryder, Jr., P.A. for legal services for FY 2018 in an amount not to exceed $75,000.00. Resolution No. R-2018-124 increased the authorized amount for FY 2018 under the Ryder Agreement to $125,000.00.
On September 10, 2018, the Law Offices of Paul T. Ryder, Jr., P.A. merged into Weiss Serota, with both Ryders moving to Weiss Serota. The Ryder Agreement prohibits the assignment of the Ryder Agreement by either party without the consent of the other party. With the understanding that the Ryders will be the primary attorneys for all services provided by Weiss Serota in the areas of labor and employment law, Weiss Serota, as the successor in interest to the Ryder Agreement, has requested that the City consent to the assignment of the Ryder Agreement to Weiss Serota. The City Attorney recommends that the City Commission authorize the appropriate City officials to consent to the assignment of the Ryder Agreement to Weiss Serota.
The City Attorney estimates that the total amount of fees that will be paid to Weiss Serota in Fiscal Year 2019 will approach but not exceed $75,000.00. The City Attorney recommends that the City Commission authorize the appropriate City officials to execute the attached Contract for Consulting/Professional Services with Weiss Serota for FY 2019. Funding has been identified and is available in the Fiscal Year 2019 budget in Account Number 01.0104.00000.514.003126.
Recommended for inclusion on the agenda by:
Douglas R. Gonzales, City Attorney
Dr. Wazir A. Ishmael, City Manager