Northampton County Council on Dec. 4 amended a provision of the county's Administrative Code governing procurement evaluation committees to clarify how and when county council members may be invited to serve.

What changed: the council voted to replace fixed numeric thresholds (1, 2 or 3 members for specific contract-value tiers) with a single, flexible clause stating that the procurement officer shall form an evaluation committee and "based on council member interest, the council president will determine the members, if any, and will inform procurement of their selection." A wording correction (changing a "may" to "shall" in one sentence) was accepted as a friendly amendment. The amended ordinance was adopted 8 to 1.

Why it mattered: supporters said the change restores council representation on larger procurements when council members want to participate and helps prevent council being excluded from RFP evaluations for projects that affect county services. Opponents argued the change risks micromanaging the procurement office and that the county already has a professional procurement department; they raised concerns about rushing the vote just before the end of the year and asked for more notice before final action.

Key quote from the ordinance reading: "The procurement officer shall form a committee of users and experts to assist in the evaluation of proposal responses. If such a committee is formed, the procurement officer must extend an offer to include a member of county council to sit on the committee. Based on council member interest, the council president will determine the members, if any, and will inform procurement of their selection." (language read into the record by the clerk.)

Vote: Council first voted to take the ordinance off the table (7-2), later passed the amendment on wording and structure (8-1) and adopted the amended procurement language by roll call (8-1).

Next steps: county staff will implement the revised procurement code language and the procurement office will extend invitations to council members when evaluation committees are formed; council members requested clarification about minimum membership and a notification process for future procurements.

Speakers (selected): multiple council members debated the amendment; the council president managed the discussion and accepted a friendly amendment to the drafted language.