Harrisburg City Council voted 5-2 to contract with lobbyists at Harrisburg-based Maverick Strategies.
The firm was hired to assist the city with “strategic guidance and intelligence gathering for lobbying-related services." Councilwoman Shamaine Daniels and councilman David Madsen voted no.
Maverick’s founding partner, Ray Zaborney, approached council in January. He asked members to consider a three-year contract. It took council 11 weeks before agreeing to amended terms of the contract.
The matter was broached at a February meeting, but council members tabled it. President Wanda Williams explained council received last-minute financial information hours before they were going to vote on a new contract.
Council members said one of the stipulations to the new contract would be that Maverick provide them with quarterly reports, and the new contract would not guarantee an automatic renewal “for three additional one-year terms,” as it was written in the proposed contract.
Council agreed to a one-year contract, which would be retroactive to Jan. 1 and end Dec. 31. The firm’s previous contract ended Dec. 31, 2018. Maverick will be paid $5,000 per month, which is the same amount the firm was paid under its last contract.