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Commission debates village attorney’s requested raise; majority balk at $75,000 increase
Summary
Village attorney’s firm asked for a substantial fee increase; commissioners disagreed over the size of the raise, debated issuing an RFQ, and coalesced around a lower counteroffer (about $125,000) for staff to present to the firm at the second reading.
The commission spent a sustained portion of the Sept. 9 hearing discussing a request from the village attorney’s firm for an increase in its contract budget. According to the manager’s summary, the firm asked for an increase that would raise the budgeted legal services from roughly $100,000 toward $175,000.
Several commissioners objected to a $75,000 jump. One commissioner said the request was excessive and urged going to an RFQ (request for qualifications) if the firm would not accept a smaller increase: "If any employee came to us and asked us for a $75,000 raise, we would be like, yeah. No," the commissioner said, arguing the village should seek competitive bids. Another commissioner said experience and continuity mattered and advocated negotiating a compromise instead of immediately replacing the firm.
After discussion the commission identified a range of counteroffers for staff to present to the firm; multiple commissioners expressed comfort starting negotiations in the $125,000 range as an opening offer (not final approval). Brad said he would speak with the firm and report back before the Sept. 24 second reading so the commission can finalize any change before budget adoption. Finance staff said the budget can absorb a recurring increase if commissioners choose to pair the change with recurring revenues (Paul noted recurring revenue in the proposed budget that could support higher recurring expenses).
What happens next: Brad will ask the firm whether it will accept the commission’s counteroffer and report back to the commission at the Sept. 24 meeting. The commission directed staff to avoid private negotiation outside of public notice and to bring any negotiated changes back for public action.
