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Trustee seeks second legal opinion as board approves large legal invoices
Summary
Trustee C. Ealey-Cross pressed for a second legal opinion and questioned the existence of a contract with law firm Klein, Thorpe & Jenkins; Village Attorney Michael Jurusik said an at-will monthly agreement and Letter of Engagement exist, and the board approved both invoices.
Trustee C. Ealey-Cross asked that invoices to the village's outside counsel be pulled from the omnibus agenda and said a second opinion was needed because, she asserted, the village did not have a contract with Klein, Thorpe & Jenkins.
Village Attorney Michael Jurusik responded that the firm has an at-will monthly agreement with the Village of Maywood and that a Letter of Engagement had prior approvals dating to 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007. "There is an 'At-will' (monthly agreement) between the Village of Maywood and Klein, Thorpe and Jenkins, Ltd and a Letter of Engagement with approvals dated 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007," Jurusik said.
Despite Ealey-Cross's objections and her request for a second opinion, the board approved a retainer invoice for $11,335.00 and a second invoice for $22,498.11 covering legal services in September. On the second invoice, Trustee C. Ealey-Cross cast the sole recorded dissenting vote; the motion carried 5–1.
The dispute prompted procedural reminders from Mayor Edwenna Perkins about speaking limits during discussion. Trustee Rogers defended the competence of Klein, Thorpe & Jenkins during the exchange. The record shows the board proceeded to pay both invoices and did not adopt Trustee Ealey-Cross's request for an outside review during this meeting.
The Clerk's Office retains the full audio and invoices for review.
