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Whitestown council selects firm for police and fire board counsel after split votes and conflict concerns
Summary
After an executive session and detailed debate about specialties, scheduling and potential conflicts, the Whitestown Town Council approved Bose McKini & Evans LLP to represent both the Whitestown Board of Metropolitan Police Commissioners and the Whitestown Fire Board; motions to select Copeland Law failed.
The Whitestown Town Council on April 8 considered three law‑firm proposals for representation of the town’s police and fire boards and selected Bose McKini & Evans LLP after extended discussion about firm experience, cost predictability and potential conflicts of interest.
Council members said they had heard about three firms in an earlier executive session and that the choice required weighing specialization in quasi‑judicial disciplinary hearings, predictable pricing and any potential or perceived conflicts with county or other clients. Several council members asked for additional time to digest proposals; two motions to table the matter earlier in the meeting had failed.
"Good governance requires us to be very deliberate in the decisions that we make," a council member said during deliberations and urged additional time if council were not prepared to vote. Other members emphasized demonstrated disciplinary‑hearing experience and cost predictability as the deciding factors.
A motion to approve Copeland Law for police‑board representation failed on a 2‑3 vote; a subsequent motion to approve Bose McKini & Evans LLP carried by a 3‑2 vote. The council repeated that pattern for the fire‑board assignment: a motion to approve Copeland Law failed (2‑3) and a motion to approve Bose McKini & Evans LLP carried (3‑2).
Council comments recorded concerns about possible scheduling constraints for some firms and potential conflicts where a firm represents other local entities; supporters of the chosen firm said it offered the best combination of relevant experience and predictability for disciplinary matters.
What happens next: The selected firm will provide legal support for disciplinary hearings and related quasi‑judicial matters for the police and fire boards; the town’s clerk/treasurer and staff will work with the firm on engagement terms and onboarding.
