Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Hiring Model topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Split on hiring approach: part‑time in‑house attorney proposed amid rancor over firm politics
Summary
Vice Mayor John Callahan proposed hiring a part‑time salaried town attorney instead of contracting a firm; proponents and opponents debated political implications, workload and budget.
Vice Mayor John Callahan argued the town should consider hiring a part‑time in‑house attorney (roughly 20 hours per week) rather than selecting a contracted law firm, saying the town’s routine legal work does not justify a full‑time incumbent. "We don't have enough work for 40 hours a week for an attorney," Callahan said during the evaluation committee meeting, and he suggested the town could hire a designated attorney and outsource complex matters as needed.
Other members pushed back. Vice Mayor Pro Tem Davis and Council Member Halpern cautioned that a part‑time hire would carry benefits and salary costs and might exceed the town’s $190,000 legal budget when benefits are included. Members also disputed whether firms’ political references — including a submission note that a firm assisted with a charter amendment — should disqualify them. The committee did not adopt the direct‑hire proposal; instead it approved interviewing firms to better assess fit, team composition and pricing.
