Sellersburg Unsafe Building Commission votes to hire attorney Alex Gaddis; approves discounted $280 hourly rate and retroactive start date

The Town of Sellersburg Unsafe Building Commission voted Nov. 13, 2025, to retain attorney Alex Gaddis as legal counsel for the Unsafe Building Commission and related town boards. The commission approved a contract that sets a standard hourly rate of $350 and a reduced rate of $280 per hour for town services, and later voted to make the contract retroactive to Nov. 1, 2025.

The commission resumed regular session from an earlier recess to take up the item. The agenda summary presented to the commission described the proposed scope to include advising boards on open-meeting and procedural matters, representing the boards in enforcement actions and court or administrative hearings, and providing day-to-day legal advice to staff on statutory, ordinance and regulatory questions. The planning and zoning board of appeals and the planning commission had previously voted on related matters, the agenda noted.

Commissioner Gibson moved to accept the proposal to retain Gaddis; Commissioner Langford seconded. The body approved the retention by voice vote. During follow-up discussion members asked about an effective date; the commission then voted to make the contract retroactive to Nov. 1, 2025.

The contract terms recorded in the meeting record show a standard hourly rate of $350 and a town discount rate of $280 per hour. The commission did not identify other billing caps or a contract end date in the public discussion recorded in the meeting.

The commission took no further public comment on the contract and moved on to other business. The retention gives the Unsafe Building Commission and the town’s related boards a named outside counsel available for enforcement and hearing representation and legal guidance on meeting and procedural matters.

The commission’s next procedural step recorded in the meeting was to complete reports (none were provided) and adjourn at 4:55 p.m.