La Plata, Maryland — The Town Council on July 29 approved Resolution 25-12 to retain Jack A. Gullo Jr. as limited-scope special counsel for a six-month transition period while the town evaluates a permanent arrangement for the town-attorney role.

Key terms: The approved agreement establishes a monthly engagement fee of $5,000 and hourly billing at $300 per hour for general legal services and $450 per hour for attendance at mayor-and-council meetings. The town manager said the engagement is intended to ensure legal continuity beginning Aug. 1, when the prior attorney’s contract ends.

Why it matters: Town staff and several council members emphasized continuity of legal services for pending matters, including regulatory negotiations with MDE and a notice of claim filed by counsel for Councilman Patrick McCormick. In his staff report, Town Manager Chuck Stevens said the town needs counsel to respond to claims and oversee quasi-judicial bodies (board of appeals, ethics commission) that require legal oversight.

Council debate: Several council members supported immediate coverage but criticized the fee structure. Councilman Paul Guttenberg described the arrangement as “a tough pill to swallow” because the short-term pricing is higher than the town’s prior legal costs. Councilman Gregory Sampson questioned the $450 hourly appearance fee for council meetings and asked why an attorney who previously did not attend meetings would now charge an elevated rate; Sampson said he had “a problem with the $450 to show up” and urged caution about granting an open-ended scope without guarantees.

Supporters responded that the contract is temporary and scoped; the town manager and other members argued that the absence of counsel would expose the town to legal risk and that the six-month term provides a defined bridge to a permanent solution. Councilmembers voted to adopt the resolution by roll call; the motion passed unanimously.

Fiscal impact and next steps: The engagement carries a not-to-exceed engagement-fee baseline of $30,000 over six months, with additional charges based on actual legal services performed. Staff said funds will come from existing legal-services budget lines and reserves; the town manager was authorized to execute the agreement and to continue evaluating longer-term counsel options.

Ending: The contract provides immediate legal coverage while the town develops a plan for permanent legal representation. Council directed staff to continue the recruitment/ vetting process for a permanent town attorney during the six-month engagement.