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Personnel committee authorizes agreement with Jackson Lewis for employment legal services
Summary
The personnel committee on June 30 unanimously authorized the director of public service and safety to contract with Jackson Lewis P.C. for general employment-related legal services, citing anticipated costs that may exceed the $77,250 administrative threshold and agreeing staff will report if spending approaches that amount.
The Personnel Committee on June 30 unanimously authorized the director of public service and safety to enter into an agreement with the law firm Jackson Lewis P.C. for general employment-related legal services.
The authorization was requested because staff expects work this year — including contract negotiations, memorandum of understanding talks, grievance work and investigations — could push legal costs above the committee’s $77,250 administrative limit. Committee members asked for clearer billing communication and monthly itemized invoices before the committee approved the request.
Staff member Titterington, who presented the item, said, “They work with us on, all matters related to, union, non union, employee, issues or opportunities.” He told the committee the firm is familiar with the municipality’s personnel rules and union contracts and that staff wants an authorization in advance because “we probably will go over, the $77,250 administrative limit.”
Committee member Pierce asked about controls to ensure accurate billing, saying, “I had a question about knowing what kind of controls we have in place to ensure accurate billing when it comes to them.” Titterington replied that staff receives an itemized list each month and that payments are approved before they are made: “we do see an itemized list of all the work, like, approve every month before payment is made.” He added that if the committee wanted further explanation of a charge, the firm is quick to provide justification.
Several members pressed for clearer advance notice if spending is expected to exceed the administrative threshold. Committee member Witten expressed concern about open-ended spending, saying, “it does feel a little bit, like, I don't wanna couch it in such negative terms. It does feel like a blank check.” Titterington and other members said the timing and nature of potential disputes make it difficult to set a fixed cap, but that spending will be visible in the next year's budget documents and could be reported to the committee when staff identifies that the threshold may be exceeded.
The committee voted unanimously to proceed "as staff is requesting," authorizing the director to enter into the professional services arrangement with Jackson Lewis P.C. No mover or seconder was recorded on the transcript.
The discussion focused on ensuring continued access to counsel for labor and employment matters while improving communication to the committee about approaching costs. Staff indicated past practice includes showing larger payments in the committee’s items-of-interest reports and recording legal spending in the annual budget, which appears a year behind actual expenditures.
