Delray Beach managers outline procurement timeline; commissioners seek audit notices and project briefings

Commissioners used the meeting to press staff on procurement, audits, contracts and local projects. City manager Mr. Moore said the selection process for a Chief Procurement Officer began in late January and that the city is finalizing the selection, with an announcement expected in mid‑April.

Several commissioners asked that the manager notify the commission when external audits (county or state) are under way so members do not learn of audits from outside sources after the fact; the commission agreed to receive notice of external audits, while commissioners expressed caution about receiving details of internal personnel investigations.

Commissioners also raised questions about insurance claims handling after a recent payout involving a private building; the city attorney cautioned that further discussion could implicate litigation, and Mr. Moore offered to provide a non‑confidential overview of the city’s claims process at the April 21 meeting.

On infrastructure, staff (identified in the transcript as Missy) explained that the Marina Way project is structured as a construction manager at risk (CMAR). Under that approach the first phase is negotiation of a guaranteed maximum price (GMP); only after the GMP is approved by the commission would construction begin. Missy told commissioners that GMP negotiations can take several months depending on design refinements and that if the GMP comes in lower the city benefits, while the CMAR assumes responsibility for many cost overruns once the GMP is set.

Vice Mayor Angela Burns asked for a staff and contractor briefing on the Barwick Road project and the effect of removing safety barriers; staff agreed to coordinate appropriate project managers and engineers for a future meeting. Commissioners said timely updates on procurement and the seawall and marina contracts are important because staffing gaps have delayed some work and increased operational risks.

The meeting closed with a list of follow‑up items: procurement selection announcement (mid‑April), a claims process overview on April 21, and a staff/contractor briefing on Barwick Road safety.