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Waukegan approves outside law firm for FOIA review at $95,000 annually
Summary
The City of Waukegan’s Finance & Purchasing Committee and full council approved engaging the law firm Jay Witherspoon to handle FOIA review and related work under an annual payment listed in meeting materials as $95,000; the firm’s attorney attended council to comment.
The Waukegan City Council approved an engagement with the law firm Jay Witherspoon to handle review and defense of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, with the council packet listing $95,000 annually for the services.
The contract was advanced out of the Finance & Purchasing Committee on May 19 and approved by roll call at the council meeting that evening. Attorney Jennifer Witherspoon attended and addressed the council, describing her experience handling FOIA work for law enforcement and municipal clients.
“I'm very humbled and privileged to continue this contract,” Attorney Jennifer Witherspoon said, referencing her prior roles and work on FOIA matters for Lake County agencies.
The city clerk’s office presented the engagement to the Finance & Purchasing Committee and described the office’s role as intake; redaction and formal response work had been handled externally in the past. Committee minutes show the clerk’s office and corporation counsel recommended the engagement.
The roll call on the Finance & Purchasing motion recorded affirmative votes from Aldermen Newsom, Florian, Hayes, Donnerworth and Guzman. The committee chair then said “Motion carried.”
No ordinance or statute was cited during the discussion; the packet noted the city sought an outside firm to handle FOIA review and possible defense. The engagement term listed in the committee materials runs through June 20, 2027.
Council and committee members asked no substantive follow-up questions at the time of the vote. The contract and related invoices will be processed through the city’s standard vendor-payments procedures.
Council action and the attorney’s remarks concluded the item; the attorney remained in the audience after the vote for brief comments and questions.
