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Richland County committee opens corporate-counsel proposals, schedules firm presentations
Summary
Committee opened three proposals for corporate/counsel services, discussed rates and potential conflicts when a single firm represents multiple jurisdictions, and agreed to invite candidates to present at the Nov. 24 full-county meeting.
The Richland County Executive and Finance Committee opened proposals for corporate legal counsel and agreed to hear presentations from candidate firms at the next full county meeting.
Staff reported three proposals were received. One proposal identified in the packet (transcript spelling varies) as "Abswain Law" included hourly rates and a statement that travel inside Richland County would not be billed; the packet also contained a proposal from Russell Law Offices of Dodgeville that offered a fixed attorney rate for a multi-year contract. Committee members discussed the incumbent firm (referred to in the transcript with varying spellings) and raised conflict-of-interest concerns when a firm represents multiple jurisdictions; supervisors noted that outside counsel can be engaged on a case-by-case basis when conflicts arise, but at higher cost.
Several supervisors expressed a preference to retain the incumbent for continuity while inviting the other firms to present. Staff said the county may ask the candidate firms to present at the Nov. 24 full-county meeting so supervisors can ask questions before making a recommendation to the board.
The committee did not select a firm at the meeting. Members asked staff to schedule presentations and to provide clarifying packet materials, including references and precise rate proposals, for review before the full-board decision.
