Title
Human Resources Department recommending the Board consider the following:
1) Make findings in accordance with Ordinance 3.13.030 that a contract for professional employment investigation legal services and other specialized personnel services are necessary to protect against a conflict of interest or to ensure independent and unbiased findings where there is a need for an outside perspective and where work must be completed in limited timeframes;
2) Approve and authorize the Board Chair to sign Agreement 8689 with Prentice Long, PC, a firm that was identified through a County request for qualifications process, for a term of three years and in an amount not to exceed $200,000; and
3) Authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute any necessary amendments relating to Agreement 8689, excluding term extensions and increases to the amount, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management.
FUNDING: General Fund.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Human Resources receives complaints of alleged misconduct in the workplace, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and abusive conduct by County employees. Human Resources receives and provides for investigations of these complaints in accordance with County policy or rule, including Board Policy E-5 and Personnel Rule 309.4, or as it and affected department heads deem necessary. The department has contracted with outside vendors when special skills and qualifications are involved in the performance of the work, when it is necessary to protect against a conflict of interest and obtain an outside perspective to make independent and unbiased findings, or when it is otherwise necessary to ensure a prompt and thorough investigation and resolution of the complaints filed. The nature of the work involves temporary, occasional, and urgent services.
Prentice Long, PC has the personnel and equipment necessary to provide legal services in connection with labor and employment matters including, but not limite...
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