Lawrence Common Council refers $80,000 legal contract and consulting agreement to committees

The Common Council of the City of Lawrence on May 5 referred two resolutions authorizing professional-services contracts to standing committees rather than taking final votes.

Resolution No. 3-2025 would authorize the city to retain Frost Brown Todd LLP for legal services under a flat-fee arrangement. Madam Clerk read into the record that “the anticipated fees for the legal services provided by FBT under the contract will be billed at a flat fee of $80,000 for the services included in the flat fee arrangement in 2025.” On the record the presiding officer said, “On behalf of the common council, I am referring Resolution Number 3, 2025 to the Administration Budget and Finance Committee for consideration.”

Resolution No. 4-2025 would authorize the city and the Utility Service Board to retain United Consulting for described services; the clerk read that the anticipated fee will exceed $50,000 and cited Lawrence Municipal Code 1-1-2-12, which requires common-council approval for professional services expenditures equal to or in excess of $50,000. The presiding officer referred Resolution No. 4-2025 to the Public Works Committee for consideration.

A councilor asked for a wording clarification to Resolution No. 3 to specify that the Common Council itself authorizes the retention; the clarification was recorded on the public record and did not change the committee referral. No committee votes or final contract approvals were taken at the May 5 meeting.

Under city procedure and Lawrence Municipal Code 1-1-2-12, expenditures for professional services of $50,000 or more must be approved by the Common Council prior to payment; these referrals start the committee review process required before any payments or final approvals.