Council To Pay Firm $72,500 for Organizational Study

City Council agreed last week to hire Novak Consulting Group out of Cincinnati for a $72,500 study of the city's organizational chart and government operations with a goal of improving efficiency and fixing any weaknesses that might be cited in the report. 

A request for proposals (RFP) was issued in June and the city received seven responses.

"The Novak Consulting Group has performed this type of analysis for communities all over the United States," according to a staff report. "The engagement director and engagement manager both have direct experience working in local government management prior to going into consulting, including in Virginia. Their team members also have direct experience in specific local government fields such as public works and public safety. City staff believes that the Novak team will offer a knowledgeable and valuable perspective on our operations."

This review is one of City Council's goals and initiatives in the comprehensive plan, which is a guide for growth. City Council was expected to conduct the study last year and allocated $75,000 in the fiscal year 2012 budget, but the governing body never moved forward with the RFP until the Aug. 14 meeting. The funds came from the fiscal year 2013 budget's surplus fund balance.

"The consultant will provide a comprehensive evaluation of the City’s programs and services," according to the staff report. "Generally speaking, the scope includes the departments under City control, but not City Schools, Social Services, or the operations of Constitutional Officers. Existing data and studies will be incorporated into the scope of the review. The consultant may make recommendations for the City to outsource certain functions, add resources, reallocate resources, improve processes, or otherwise improve certain functions."

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