HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-05-04 ad Hoc Town Counsel Review Committee MinutesLegal Services Review Committee Meeting
May 4, 2000
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The Committee convened at 6:45 p.m. in Room 222, Reading Memorial High` School, kLdmg,
Massachusetts. Present were Camille Anthony, Jonathan Barnes, Stephen Crook, Tim Twomey,
Matthew Nestor, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner.
Camille Anthony was designated Chairman by acclamation. The Committee discussed the
possibility of in house counsel, developing an RFP and going for proposals for outside counsel,
extending the current contract for six months while we do this process, and doing a survey of all
Boards, Committees and Commissions as to the needs for legal services. The Committee has an
RFP that was used the last time for soliciting proposals from legal services firms. They will
review that RFP by Monday and get any comments back to the Town Manager. He will then
arrange to send an RFP out and advertise.
Camille Anthony and Matt Nestor will report back to the Board of Selectmen that we should
extend the arrangement with current Town Counsel for six months with a "cap" of 500 hours.
They will review this with the other members of the Board of Selectmen.
The Town Manager will get a list of what communities use in house counsel and will begin to
develop a questionnaire that can be used for talking to other communities. The members of the
Legal Services Review Committee will also look at possible questions. It was suggested that one
person should do all of the "interviews" with communities that use in-1ouse-counsel.
The next Committee meeting is Thursday, May 18 at 8:00 p.m. in the Employees Lounge at
Town Hall.
On motion by Barnes seconded by Nestor, the Legal Services Review Committee voted to
adjourn at 7:30 p.m. on a vote of 5-0-0.
e fii submitted,
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