Danbury has received four bids from lobbyists to represent the City at the state capital.  The Danbury Board of Education approved allocating $25,000 toward the effort before the City Council voted on their half of the cost this week. 

There was a question on why the City issued a Request For Proposals before all of the funding was approved.  Mayor Mark Boughton said they can issue an RFP, but can't award a bid until the funding is approved.  A bid has not yet been awarded.

Boughton says the process was done this way to give the City a leg up, and not spend several more weeks waiting for responses.  The high bid was $50,000, the lowest was for $30,000 and two proposals came in at $40,000.

The contract is for all of 2016, including special sessions.  The current General Assembly Session ends in May.  Boughton reminded Council members that a lot of work is done when lawmakers are not in session.

There must be mutual agreement for extension beyond 2016.  If Danbury officials decide that having a lobbyist on staff is worth the expense, Boughton will have to bring the extension option back to the City Council for approval because more money would be required. 

Council Minority Leader Tom Saadi said the bipartisan delegation represents the city well enough and he's not sold this is the right approach to trying to get more state funding back for the City.  He says he may be proved wrong in the end, but was one of thee council members to vote against the item.  Joining him in opposition were Councilmen Fred Visconti and Ben Chianese.