Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Legal Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Scranton board tables vote on new special‑education lawyer after public questions about legal fees and conflicts
Summary
Public commenters pressed the Scranton School Board over a proposed contract with Joyce Carmody Moran (JCM) and overall legal fees. The board appointed outside special counsel to manage the RFP process, then tabled a separate motion to name JCM as special‑education counsel because directors did not have a final contract to review.
The Scranton School Board on Monday postponed a vote to hire the law firm Joyce Carmody Moran (JCM) as special‑education counsel after public commenters raised questions about the firm’s involvement in local politics and the district did not have a final contract available for directors to review.
Several members of the public urged the board to be transparent about legal fees and potential conflicts before approving a new contract. “It is my understanding that President Holmes directed the vendor committee to negotiate the contract with JCM,” resident Barb O’Malley told the board, adding that JCM attorney Brendan Fitzgerald had written a letter concerning a Scranton City Council candidate and “has not identified on whose behalf they wrote the letter.”
Holly Mead, who followed during public comment, said the agenda listed a $60,000 retainer for the firm and described apparent inconsistencies in hourly rates; she asked the board for details on how much the district currently spends on legal services. “This is a very lucrative contract for whichever firm the board chooses,” Mead said.
Board members responded by saying the procurement process was handled through the solicitor and central administration. President Holmes defended the RFP process and said legal counsel had answered directors’ questions during interviews. In separate action, the board voted to appoint an outside attorney as special counsel to oversee the legal‑services request for proposals (RFP) process. Attorney Katz was appointed special counsel by roll call vote and accepted the assignment.
When a resolution to appoint Joyce Carmody Moran as the district’s special‑education counsel was placed on the floor, several directors said they had not received the final contract document. Director Bolland urged patience and cited experience and continuity as relevant selection factors, using the phrase, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” while describing a competing firm’s long record in education law. After discussion, a motion to table the resolution passed 5–3 because the final contract had not been circulated to all directors.
After the tabled vote, directors agreed to coordinate with central administration to circulate the contract and schedule a special meeting to consider legal‑services and general counsel appointments once all board members have had a chance to review the final documents.
Discussion points: public concern over possible political involvement by a law firm attorney; inconsistent or unclear published hourly/retainer amounts; board assertion that the RFP and interview process was handled transparently.
Next steps: the board directed central administration to circulate the final contract and said it will advertise a special meeting to vote on legal services once scheduling and contract distribution are complete.
