Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Legal Billing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee delays decision on unexpected solicitor invoice, suggests executive session for personnel/contract review
Summary
The committee received an additional solicitor invoice that pushed legal charges beyond an earlier $4,000 authorization and decided to table approval pending a more detailed review and possible executive session.
Finance staff told the committee they had received a second invoice from the law firm Forrest Brown Todd LLC that increased total solicitor charges beyond a previously authorized amount. The committee declined to authorize payment of the excess at this meeting and recommended discussing the matter in executive session to address personnel and contract confidentiality.
Finance staff said the village paid an earlier invoice (about $3,320) under a prior $4,000 authorization. A second invoice dated Jan. 22 and received in March was listed at $2,120 for services through December, bringing the two invoices together to about $5,440 — higher than the original authorization. Committee members said they were not comfortable approving the additional amount without further review and suggested legal counsel and the involved council members (including the absent Miss Kreimer) be part of the follow-up.
Why it matters: The extra legal charges represent roughly 10% of the village solicitor budget for the year, staff said; committee members said additional appropriation or an executive session may be required before any additional authorization.
Next steps: Committee asked staff to hold payment pending counsel guidance, consider executive session to address personnel and contract confidentiality issues, and provide documentation and a justification for the additional hours billed.
