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Council ends contract with Gianmarco firm and hires Keller Toma and Rosati Schultz for legal services
Summary
The council voted to terminate the city's contract with Gianmarco Mullins Horton and to approve new contracts: Keller Toma for labor and employment law and Rosati Schultz for general municipal and prosecution services. Council debated insurance limits and procedural follow-up but approved both new agreements.
The East Lansing City Council voted unanimously to provide notice of termination to the Gianmarco Mullins Horton law firm and approved new legal services contracts for labor and employment matters (Keller Toma P.C.) and for general municipal legal and prosecution services (Rosati Schultz Jopich and Arms). Council also addressed insurance limits in the contracts during debate.
City Manager Mr. Bellman presented the drafts of the offers and noted staff recommended changes to the workers’ compensation insurance clause; he explained the recommended $500,000 workers’ compensation limit reflected the contractors’ certificates of insurance and existing umbrella coverage. Council members discussed whether to retain a higher limit of $1,000,000; an amendment to require $1,000,000 workers’ compensation failed for lack of a second in one vote and subsequently failed in a roll call in another contract vote.
Council approved a resolution to provide notice of termination to the Gianmarco firm and voted to approve the Keller Toma contract for labor/employment law and the Rosati Schultz contract for general municipal legal services and prosecution. The Keller Toma and Rosati Schultz motions were each put to roll call and approved; the record shows unanimous support for the hires.
Council members and at least one commenter asked staff to ensure ongoing coordination with outside counsel in the event of conflicts and to provide a clear reporting cadence. Council also discussed insurance levels and asked staff to confirm policy certificates and umbrella coverage apply as intended.
