By Cindy Jackson
Reporter
July 7, 2020
“Commission Chair Danny Leeper added his desire to see that an additional $2.2 million that is to be received by Nassau County be dedicated to small businesses. A motion was made and it too was agreed to unanimously.”
David Jahosky, Managing Director for the Government Services Group, Inc. (GSG) was the reason a special meeting of the Board of County Commissioners was held on Monday, July 6, 2020.
A Florida-based government services consulting firm that has been around since 1996, GSG has been brought in to create an expenditure plan for the monies Nassau County recently received from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
During his presentation, Jahosky talked of the risks involved in the County fronting funds and the dangers of “claw back provisions” (which require the repayment of monies allocated). It is for those and other reasons that the BOCC unanimously decided to go with a private, outside firm, experienced in the management of this sort of situation to provide the leadership, efficiency and effectiveness in these unchartered waters. The County is trying hard to avoid any potential financial crises.
Posturing for a question that he already knew the answer to, Commissioner Aaron Bell asked, “If the $15 million isn’t spent by December 30, 2020, it all goes back to DC, yes?” underscoring the need to get the money out quickly.
The answer was yes and with that response, the Commissioners agreed 5-0 to immediately begin negotiations for a contract with GSG, ASAP.
Commission Chair Danny Leeper added his desire to see that an additional $2.2 million that is to be received by Nassau County be dedicated to small businesses. A motion was made and it too was agreed to unanimously.
GSG and County staff have already begun their meetings and a formal plan is expected by the end of July.
About the cost of contracting with an outside firm? An email response received from Office of Management and Budget Director Megan Diehl said, “We do not have a scope or price yet for the GSG contract to my knowledge. It is reimbursable through CARES funds.”