Council approves engagement letter with Barley Snyder for labor counsel after issues with prior firm

Millersville Borough Council approved execution of an engagement letter with Barley Snyder to provide labor counsel services to the borough.

Borough Manager Rebecca told council that the borough’s previous labor counsel, Joseph Hoffman of Stevens & Lee, retired late in 2024 and that the borough received no timely notice; she said attempts to confirm reassignment with the firm produced no response and that the borough had to seek alternatives because an upcoming police negotiation requires a labor attorney. Rebecca said she solicited recommendations from other Lancaster municipalities and the borough solicitor and discussed Barley Snyder with those contacts.

Councilmember Linda said the borough had a poor experience with Barley Snyder in an earlier engagement and opposed the motion. Rebecca and other councilmembers said the individual Barley Snyder attorney proposed for Millersville is different from the attorney named in the borough's prior unsatisfactory experience and that the firm has a strong local reputation. Councilmember Phyllis moved to approve executing the engagement letter; the motion was seconded and carried with one recorded no vote. The meeting record shows the motion carried and that an individual cast a recorded vote of "Nay for me" and another voice vote of "No from Linda." The motion carried; no dollar-limited contract or retainer was approved at the meeting—the document before council was an engagement letter describing pay-as-requested services.

The engagement letter will allow the borough to request labor-law services from Barley Snyder as needed and to retain the firm for representation in the upcoming police collective-bargaining negotiations. Council did not authorize a separate retainer or long-term contract at this meeting.