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ITEM: OUTSIDE LEGAL FEES AND COSTS
REQUEST: Approval of continued use of outside professional legal services with multiple firms in an amount up to $125,000 through February, 2017.
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EXPLANATION: Various outside law firms have been retained by the Village of Wellington to serve as its legal counsel in pending lawsuits, human resources related issues, and other areas in which special expertise is needed. These outside legal expenses were anticipated and are part of the overall legal budget. To date, invoices totaling $26,612.89 have been paid for services from multiple firms through October 2016 for various projects. Of that, a total of $19,513.89 has been paid to Lehtinen Schultz Riedi Catalano de la Fuente for services through October 2016.
Pursuant to the Village’s purchasing policy, legal expenses are exempt from competitive bid requirements; however, individual expenditures for which the cumulative totals are over $25,000, for any single project, requires Council approval.
Staff recommends approval of continued use of outside legal services with multiple firms in an amount up to $125,000 through February, 2017.
Sufficient funds have been allocated in the Legal GL #001-0130-514.31-01 for outside legal services to cover the cost of these expenditures.
BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUIRED: NO
PUBLIC HEARING: NO QUASI-JUDICIAL:
FIRST READING: SECOND READING:
LEGAL SUFFICIENCY: YES
FISCAL IMPACT: Sufficient funds have been allocated in the Legal GL #001-0130-514.31-01 for outside legal services.
WELLINGTON FUNDAMENTAL: Protecting our Investment
RECOMMENDATION: Approval of continued use of outside professional legal services with multiple firms in an amount up to $125,000 through February, 2017.