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County retains insurance-defense counsel for Union Township property suit; commissioners table detectives union contract over pension question
Summary
Lawrence County approved a contract to continue working with insurance-defense counsel on a property-related lawsuit in Union Township and tabled a collective-bargaining agreement with the Lawrence County Detectives Association because a stipend provision may be pensionable.
The Lawrence County Board of Commissioners approved Resolution 110 to retain the county’s insurance-defense counsel (Jones, Pasadellos — the meeting referenced the firm handling prior insurance defense) to continue work on litigation related to a parcel in Union Township. County Solicitor Jason Madore told commissioners the same attorneys are familiar with the litigation and had agreed to continue at a reduced PCORP (insurance pool) rate.
Madore said the county had been named in multiple related suits; the federal case had been dropped, leaving a county-level action. The plaintiffs named in the county-filed resolution include Innovative Construction Inc., Innovative Associates, Sandro LLC, the Sandro Trust, Caravan Recovery and Real Rehabilitation Center LLC, Caravan 2 LLC, and Andrews Sanctuary Christian Youth Center Inc.; the parcel in dispute is in Union Township. Petitions and further filings were discussed as part of the summary presented to commissioners.
Separately, the board considered Resolution 111, a collective-bargaining agreement (CBA) with the Lawrence County Detectives Association. Madore and county staff told commissioners the detectives had voted to ratify a draft that included a service stipend, but the county learned the stipend might be pensionable and therefore subject to pension calculations. Because that pension treatment would affect wages and employer costs, the board voted to table the CBA to allow further discussion with the association about how to proceed.
Board action: Resolution 110 (defense counsel renewal) was approved by roll-call vote. Resolution 111 (the detectives’ CBA) was tabled by motion and unanimous roll-call vote so staff can resolve the pensionable-stipend question with union representatives.
Why it matters: the legal representation ensures continuity of defense in litigation involving county property; tabling the detectives’ CBA delays final adoption of a contract that includes compensation provisions affecting pension calculations and payroll costs.
Ending: commissioners approved continuation with the insurance defense counsel at reduced PCORP rate and directed county staff and counsel to meet with the detectives association to address the pensionability question before returning the CBA for approval.
