Town Council Renews Contract With PR Firm

The Kensington Town Council voted unanimously to renew its contract with PR firm Maier Warner last night, but only after a long debate and a changed vote.

The new contract changes the scope of work of the last and includes the creation of a Facebook page and YouTube account for the town. It would also focus on enticing businesses to move to Kensington.

The first vote on the contract was 3-1, with Council Member Lydia Sullivan voting against.

"A town of 1,900 people doesn't need a $30,000-plus contract with a PR firm," Sullivan said. "In these economic times, we need to be especially mindful of how we spend the taxpayers' money."

However, after the vote, town attorney Suellen Ferguson informed the council that passing the new contract required unanimous approval, and with Sullivan's vote, the town would fall back on its old contract with Maier Warner until it expires in 2012.

The old contract costs Kensington $3,500 per month, while the new one costs $2,833.33.

After hearing this, Sullivan made a motion to reconsider and changed her vote, approving the new deal with the firm.

The new contract runs through 2012 and can be extended for three years beyond that, Ferguson said. The town can terminate the deal with 30 days notice.

The council's next meeting will be Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.