HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-06-29 ad Hoc Town Counsel Review Committee MinutesLegal Services Review Committee
June 29, 2000,
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The meeting convened at 8:00 p.m. in the Conference Room at Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street,
Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Camille Anthony, School Committee Member
Tim Twomey, Town Meeting Member Stephen Crook, Bylaw Committee Member Phil Pacino,
CPDC Member Jonathan Barnes, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner.
On motion by Twomey seconded by Barnes, the minutes of May 18, 2000 were approved by a
vote of 4-0-1, with Pacino abstaining.
Camille Anthony noted that Beth Anne Matathia had resigned from the Legal Services Review
Committee and the Conservation Commission. The Conservation Commission has recommended
Mark Gillis as a replacement. This will be scheduled for Board of Selectmen's action at their
next meeting.
The Town Manager reviewed the fact that we received proposals from six firms for outside
counsel. The Committee reviewed the evaluation form that was distributed with the material for
this meeting and suggested changes to it. The Town Manager will make modifications and send
it out by e-mail to all members for them to utilize as they see fit. It was suggested that all six
firms should be interviewed.
The Town Manager also reviewed the Town Counsel evaluation form to be distributed to all
Boards, Committees and Commissions and senior staff, and he will send this out with some
modifications.
The Town Manager reported on his review of "in-house" counsel as practiced in Hull, Newton
and Stoneham. He has talked with in-house counsel in each community. The Committee felt
that having representatives from existing Town Counsel as well as Stoneham and Hull could be
very helpful to the review that they are doing, and will try to arrange that for the week of the 17th
but not the 17th of July or the week of the 24th, and not the 27th or 28th. The preferable date
would be Thursday, July 20.
Ted Cohen's appointment has been made for six months ending December 31, 2000 for 550
hours. Anything over 550 hours will be billed at $150.00 an hour. The Town Manager will be
responsible for managing access to Town Counsel to try to stay within the 550 hours.
Camille Anthony also noted that Matthew Nestor had talked with current Town Counsel Ted
Cohen to ask if he is interested in being in-house counsel and he stated that he is not at this time.
It was noted that the e-mail reminder of the meeting to the committee was very helpful.
Lefzal Services Review Committee - June 29, 2000 - Page 2
On motion by Barnes seconded by Crook, the Legal Services Review Committee Meeting of
June 29, 2000 iws a djourned at 9:20 p.m. by a vote of 5-0-0.
s tfu y tted,
Secretary