Two law firms pitch contract city‑attorney services to Livingston council; council to decide in closed session

Two law firms presented contract city‑attorney proposals at the June 3 Livingston City Council meeting and answered council questions about team structure, availability for council and planning‑commission meetings, travel arrangements, and billing practices.

Burke Williams presentation

Mark (surname in transcript: Badassetram) and Leah Casella represented Burke Williams. They described a “core team” assigned to Livingston that would include a lead city attorney, an assistant, and specialty attorneys for labor/employment, planning, public construction, code enforcement and environmental matters. Leah Casella emphasized the firm’s public‑agency experience and the value of having specialists available for rapid, practical legal advice. When asked about start dates, Burke said the firm could begin “as soon as you’d like us to start” and noted the firm would be flexible about office hours and backup representation.

Colin, Tuno, Highsmith & Whatley presentation

Andrew Jared and associate Mahir (Mahir Korodi in transcript) presented the second firm (Colin, Tuno, Highsmith & Whatley). Jared described a practice that balances litigation and municipal transactional work, said his office frequently supports northern and southern California clients, and offered to provide a cost‑competitive proposal. Jared told council the firm typically structures travel billing “portal to portal” and can negotiate fixed‑fee or hourly arrangements. On start date he said the firm could take over “as soon as you approve the contract,” subject to any notice requirements in existing contracts the presenters maintain with other clients.

Council questions and council process

Councilmembers asked about: - Availability for first/third‑Tuesday council meetings and second‑Tuesday planning commission meetings; both firms said they can be flexible and provide backup counsel if schedule conflicts arise. - Billing transparency and public records: both firms discussed the standard practice of providing invoice cover pages (total amounts) and the legal constraints when redaction is required for attorney‑client privileged material; both said detailed billing can be produced in consultation with the city but redactions may be necessary where privilege applies. - Start dates and travel: both firms said they could start immediately after contract approval, though one partner noted up to 30 days may be necessary in some staffing transitions; both discussed travel billing practices and said they can structure office hours and use remote meetings where feasible.

Next step: closed session appointment

The council listed a closed‑session agenda item for a public‑employee appointment (city attorney) and for labor negotiations and later retired into closed session. No public appointment was announced in open session.

Speakers (attributed in article)

- Mark (Badassetram), Burke Williams (presenter) - Leah Casella, Burke Williams (assistant city attorney nominee) - Andrew Jared, Colin, Tuno, Highsmith & Whatley (presenter) - Mahir Korodi, associate, Colin, Tuno firm - Councilmembers who asked: Councilmember Paul, Councilmember Wallace, Mayor Pro Tem Semmer

Authorities

- None cited as legal authority during the presentations; firms referenced state law and public‑agency practice generally in answers about privilege and billing.

Actions

- Council moved to discuss the city‑attorney appointment in closed session (public employee appointment listed on the agenda). No final public appointment recorded in open session June 3.

Discussion vs. decision

- Discussion: Two firms presented qualifications, staffing, start dates and fee approaches; council probed availability and billing transparency. - Decision: No public decision recorded; appointment deliberated in closed session per the agenda item "public employee appointment — city attorney."

Clarifying details

- Start date: Both firms said they could begin service "as soon as you approve the contract" though 30 days could be required in some transitions (firm responses to council questions). - Office hours: Both firms offered flexible on‑site or remote arrangements and backup coverage for conflicts. - Billing and public records: Both firms said invoice cover pages (total billed) are often provided to the public; itemized bills may be subject to attorney‑client privilege and redaction where applicable.

Proper_names:[{"name":"Burke Williams","type":"organization"},{"name":"Colin, Tuno, Highsmith & Whatley","type":"organization"}]

Community_relevance

- Geographies: City of Livingston (local municipal government legal services) - Impact groups: elected officials, city staff, residents seeking assurance of legal counsel, developers and employers interacting with the city

Meeting_context

- Engagement_level: formal presentations with Q&A; council followed with closed‑session appointment item. - Implementation_risk: low (routine procurement of contract legal services); council must choose and formally execute contract.

Searchable_tags:["city attorney","legal services","procurement"],

Provenance:{"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"block_6363.6","local_start":0,"local_end":120,"evidence_excerpt":"Good evening counsel. My name is Mark Badassetram. I'm with the law firm of Berkelunds and Sorensen...","tc_start":"01:46:03","tc_end":"01:46:15","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"block_8209.78","local_start":0,"local_end":220,"evidence_excerpt":"Oh, yeah. That's pretty close. Well, good evening. I'm Andrew Jared. I'm with the law firm of Colin Tuno...","tc_start":"02:17:49","tc_end":"02:18:12","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]},

salience:{"overall":0.62,"overall_justification":"Selection of the city attorney affects legal advice and risk management but is a routine procurement handled in closed session.","impact_scope":"local","impact_scope_justification":"Counsel directly serves the city government and residents.","attention_level":"medium","attention_level_justification":"Important to local governance but technical in nature."}} ,{