Subject:
Title
Appropriate Spending for the Town Attorney for FY 2026-27
Body
DATE(S) OF PRIOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION OF THIS ISSUE: Yearly
EXPLANATION AND SUMMARY:
The Town Attorney has a contract with the Town and a supplemental budget for additional invoiced legal fees and litigation related costs. The Town Attorney's contract and rates have only seen minor adjustments in the past several years and have lagged behind market rates. This year's budget includes a 5.0% increase to the legal services line items to partially address appropriate rate increases in the "Legal Services" portion of the Legal Services Contract, as discussed in Budget and past contract discussions between the Council, Town Manager, and the Town Attorney.
The purpose of this agenda item is to appropriate the Town Attorney's fees including the supplemental account for fiscal year spending. These amounts have already been approved in the Budget and the Town has an existing legal services contract.
Departmental Recommendation: Recommend approval.
Finance Recommendation: Recommend approval.
Purchasing Recommendation: Recommend approval.
Town Attorney Recommendation: The Town Attorney Budget contains line items that are for contracted legal services, pursuant to a legal services contract with the Town Attorney and his law firm, BrigliaHundley, P.C. This covers legal fees for general counsel legal services as the appointed Town Attorney, prosecution of traffic and misdemeanor offenses in the General District and Circuit Courts, as well as supplemental litigation of other legal matters as needed. In addition to Steven Briglia, the appointed Town Attorney, several other attorneys with BrigliaHundley, P.C. perform legal services for the Town. The Town adjusts the rates and base fees from time to time, and the actual hourly rates for supplemental legal expenses have not been raised for FY26-27. Base rates for certain legal services were raised as part of the budget request process.
Town Manager's Recommendation: I recommend the Town Council approve the appropriation for legal services for fiscal year 2026-2027 to Briglia and Hundley, PC, as presented.
Cost and Financing: $436,000.00
Account Number:
100-102-1021-11221-43102 - Legal Services $248,250
100-102-1021-11221-43113 - Prosecuting Services $110,250
100-102-1021-11221-43114 - Supplement Legal Services $ 77,500
Prior Funding Approval: Annual General Budget (Year), Amendments, CIP Budget (Year), or ARPA.
Decision Needed by This date: July 6, 2026
PROPOSED/SUGGESTED MOTION
Recommended Action
"I move to approve the appropriation for legal services for fiscal year 2026-27 totaling an amount not to exceed $436,000 to Briglia and Hundley, PC, in the accounts noted above."
Or
Other action deemed necessary by Council