PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- City Councilor John Lombardi says that in hiring the lobbying firm of Peck, Madigan, Jones & Stewart, Mayor David N. Cicilline's administration has wrongly circumvented the public bidding process.

In a letter to the mayor Tuesday, Lombardi called the administration's decision to bill the $135,000 contract an "emergency expenditure" -- which does not need to go to public bid -- as "farfetched."

"I am deeply concerned that your administration continues to flout the mandated checks and balances for contracts and purchases," Lombardi said in his letter. "The city has opted to make a large expenditure, once again, without the benefit of public scrutiny."

The nine-month contract calls for the firm to develop a plan to best take advantage of money coming from the federal government as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. It was approved by the city Board of Contract and Supply Monday.

Cicilline's communications director, Rhoades Alderson, said Monday that "the city felt that going through a bid process with other Washington firms that are unknown would be taking an unnecessary risk and waste precious time in a process that needs to be done right."

According to Police and Legislative Affairs Director Matthew Stark, the firm will help the city analyze ARRA regulations, funding formulas and application requirements, and relay that information to the city's Policy and Legislative Affairs Office. It will also advocate on the city's behalf as President Obama's administration clarifies how it intends to distribute the next phases of the economic recovery money.

Sean R. Richardson, former chief of staff to Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy, is an associate at the D.C.-based lobbying firm and will handle the city account.

Under Chapter 21, Section 29 of the city Code of Ordinances , the contract board can approve emergency expenditures and avert the bid process only when there is an "unforeseen situation requiring immediate attention in order to safeguard the welfare of the people of the city, and one which renders the process of competitive bidding impractical or impossible."

Said Lombardi in his letter to the mayor: "Under no interpretation of this provision could the hiring of a lobbyist to develop a plan to take advantage of the economic stimulus funds be defined of as an emergency."