Council approves retention of appraisal consultant tied to pending litigation; discussion limited by confidentiality

The City Council approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to retain Standard Valuation Services (named in the meeting) to provide real-property valuation consulting, trial-ready appraisals and potential expert testimony related to pending litigation, at a cost not to exceed $25,000.

City counsel and staff said the services are being sought in connection with pending litigation and therefore some details are limited in public session. Deputy corporation counsel Joseph Lupo said the $25,000 cap was intended to allow necessary appraisal and testimony work without returning immediately for council approval; he warned that a prolonged or unusually complex trial could exceed the estimate, though staff did not anticipate that will happen.

Council debate included questions about lease terms and equalization rates for a property mentioned in the litigation (a retail tenant, Stop & Shop) and whether those lease details are public record. A council member asked whether the Stop & Shop rents the entire property; staff deferred to counsel and suggested those details might be better addressed in executive session because of the litigation context. One council member (Lester) said he had read the resolution and associated materials but said he could not vote yes because he lacked sufficient understanding and expertise on the matter; he recorded a no vote.

The motion passed with one no vote. The contract authorization allows the city to move forward with valuation services while preserving the city’s option to return to the council if costs exceed the authorized amount.

Ending: Officials said additional substantive details about the litigation and appraisal scope will be discussed in executive session as allowed by law; staff confirmed the preliminary appraisal work already had been paid and the retention is to secure trial-ready materials and testimony if needed.