The city’s federal lobbying firm could have its annual compensation reduced by about 70 percent under a contract the Oak Ridge City Council will consider Monday.
The Ferguson Group of Washington, D.C., has earned up to $102,000 per year to lobby for Oak Ridge in the nation’s capital.
However, under the proposed contract, The Ferguson Group could earn $30,000 at an hourly rate of $425 per hour. Once the firm reaches the $30,000 cap, the city manager would have to approve extra hours.
The company would also have a $5,000 expense allowance that could pay for long distance telephone calls, faxes, document production, overnight delivery, business meals, out-of-town travel, and in-town taxi rides in Washington, D.C.
“It’s a different kind of contract,” Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson said Friday. “We will have a block of money and buy down as we use it.”
The city will no longer pay The Ferguson Group $8,000 per month.
“Some months we’re using it for $10,000, and some months we’re using $2,000,” Watson said.
The one-year agreement would go into effect in the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.
The Ferguson Group is expected to monitor developments in the nation’s capital that could affect Oak Ridge, track legislation of interest, undertake specific assignments as requested, and provide grant support to the city, among other things.
Also Monday, Council will consider reducing the amount paid to state lobbying firm Bill Nolan and Associates of Oak Ridge. Nolan has been paid $55,800 but his compensation could drop to $45,000 per year.
His pay would vary depending upon the time of year. From July to December, Nolan would earn $2,500 per month, and his company would collect $5,000 per month from January to June, when the Tennessee General Assembly is in session.
Monday’s City Council meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the Municipal Building Courtroom.
Susie Williams Taylor says
Where could information be found about what these two “firms” have actually done for Oak Ridge?
John Huotari says
Susie, the two companies have typically given periodic updates to City Council members outlining what they’ve accomplished and what they intend to work on (their legislative agendas). Those agendas are developed with input from city officials. I don’t have copies of those reports, but I’m sure the city keeps copies of them. It might be good for me to try to summarize some of the highlights of the company’s efforts during the past four or five years.