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"A, 0 b "2 <br />BOOK 6 f.4, E !' 1 <br />Assistant County Attorney Sharon Brennan understood that since <br />the Commissioners no longer serve on selection committees, <br />Administrator Chandler will be the Board's representative on the <br />committee. She explained that this is the final agreement that is <br />being submitted by the committee for- the Board's approval and they <br />are requesting authorization to send out requests for proposals on <br />this matter. <br />Commissioner Scurlock questioned the potential budgetary <br />impact, and Attorney Brennan explained that OMB Director Joe Baird <br />ran the numbers on this and the average that we are paying now for <br />non -capital felony cases is around $900. She was not sure what it <br />is for juvenile and misdemeanor cases, which also would be covered <br />under this contract. In St. Lucie County, their contract was $525 <br />for non -capital felonies, and it was $650 in Martin County. It <br />would be a savings in money and County staff time as there is a <br />tremendous amount of paperwork and administrative work that has to <br />be done in the processing of all of the attorneys' motions for fees <br />and costs that are connected with these cases. We probably <br />couldn't put a dollar amount on it, but the savings would be <br />substantial. <br />Attorney Vitunac advised that Attorney Brennan's primary <br />position is to analyze each and every claim that comes across in <br />our entire county, and the costs are audited before any money is <br />spent. She goes to court on a weekly basis to challenge any claims <br />that are too high. If this goes through, there still will be some <br />conflicts that she will monitor, but her hours will be cut way back <br />unless other work is found. <br />Attorney Brennan explained that she still will be working in <br />the area of bond estreature remissions, and she noted that capital <br />cases are becoming more and more of a concern. <br />Commissioner Scurlock understood that in any event this will <br />impact her number of hours. <br />Attorney Vitunac confirmed that it would, but emphasized that <br />even so, she has done a good job in working up this request for <br />proposal. <br />Chairman Eggert asked if the Board wished the County <br />Administrator or his designee to be on the selection committee, and <br />the Board indicated their preference of the Administrator's <br />designee due to the Administrator's heavy work load. <br />MOTION WAS MADE by Commissioner Scurlock, SECONDED <br />by Commissioner Wheeler, that the Board approve <br />the request for proposal, as amended, and authorize its <br />distribution. <br />20 <br />