Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Contract Award topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Dennis Housing Trust authorizes engagement with Galvin & Galvin for legal and consulting services
Summary
The trust voted to retain Galvin & Galvin for on‑call legal and advisory work; members approved the engagement by roll call and asked staff to clarify reimbursable expense examples, termination/document reproduction fees and whether to cap out‑of‑pocket costs.
The Dennis Board of Housing Trust voted on Jan. 12 to authorize an engagement agreement with the law firm Galvin & Galvin for ongoing legal and advisory services related to trust work and pending housing projects.
Motion and vote
A trustee moved that the trust “authorize the engagement of the firm of Galvin & Galvin for ongoing consulting and legal advisory services as needed,” and to empower a cochair to execute the engagement letter. The motion was seconded and passed by roll call.
Terms discussed
Trust members reviewed the advertised fee schedule during discussion: the partner rate was stated at $185 per hour, with associate counsel and paralegal rates discussed in the meeting transcript (transcript formatting contained typographic inconsistencies; trustees clarified the intent as $150/hour for associate counsel and $125/hour for paralegal work). Members asked staff to obtain a clearer, itemized fee schedule and examples of reimbursable expenses (travel mileage, in‑person attendance) and raised whether the trust should set a cap on out‑of‑pocket costs.
Follow up
Members also questioned a clause that would require payment for reproduction of materials if the firm were asked to provide files after termination; the trust asked staff to return with a clarified expense schedule and to consider a reasonable cap or clearer limits on reimbursables.
Board member comments
One member said the firm was recommended by housing partners familiar with regional practice and that its hourly rates are competitive for the service. The trust voted to authorize the engagement while reserving follow‑up on detailed billing and expense caps.
Implementation
The cochair was authorized to sign the standard engagement letter; staff will seek an itemized expense list from Galvin & Galvin and will report back with proposed limits if necessary.
