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Council approves $27,500 amendment for bond counsel amid requests for itemized billing
Summary
Council approved an amendment to the bond-counsel engagement to cover additional fees tied to extra closings and scope changes; some council members and a public commenter asked for an itemized bill before approval.
Brooklyn — The Town Council approved an amendment to the bond-counsel engagement that the meeting record showed as an additional fee request of about $27,000–$27,500 to cover extra closings and added scope.
Council members said the project has required more closings and transactions than originally anticipated. One council member acknowledged not having seen an itemized bill and said they could not explain how bond counsel arrived at the figure; several other members and a public commenter pressed for more detail. A public commenter asked whether the request felt like "blackmail," and council members replied that bond counsel work is expensive but required for the financing.
Despite questions about itemization, a motion to approve the requested amendment was made, seconded and carried. Staff and bond counsel said the additional fee must be approved to permit dispersal of loan proceeds at closing.
The transcript includes multiple amounts in discussion ($27,000 and $27,500 appear in different lines); the council approved the amendment as presented during the meeting.
Next steps: staff said they will include the engagement amendment in the closing paperwork so loan proceeds can be distributed at closing.
