Four main categories comprise the legal services that Syracuse law firm Harris Beach provides the town of Manlius each year. Supervisor Ed Theobald said because the cost of legal services is a common question among taxpayers, the Manlius Town Board asked its attorney Tim Frateschi to supply a general break down to the public at its Jan. 12 meeting. The details are a result of a complete internal review.
“We are reporting to taxpayers tonight,” Theobald said at the meeting. “This is how we should approach [professional services] until there’s a time when there is a cost [issue] or lack [in] service.”
Frateschi listed the legal services as follows: litigation, general services, planning and development, and labor and employment.
The cost of litigation, driven by people making claims against the town, was budgeted at $17,500. The town spent a little more than $18,000. The biggest costs last year involved two matters, Frateschi said. One had to do with claims by Manlius residents Joe and Marcia Novak that the town wasn’t properly enforcing codes at 8181 Bluffview Drive, which in an appeals case, the state ruled in favor of the town. The other is an ongoing issue regarding covenants on land owned by William Camperlino at Three Falls Woods.
General services include adopting and drafting ordinances; planning and development services assist the planning board with various projects including subdivisions; and labor and employment services include personnel matters and union negotiations.
“The only area we were over was in litigation,” Frateschi said.
The town had budgeted $139,000 for legal services in 2010. It spent just under $116,000 overall.
In contrast, the town’s former legal representative, Hiscock & Barcley, cost $300,000 in 2002, $370,000 in 2003 and $298,000 in 2004.
“Our cost this year was $115,905,” Theobald said. “Hiscock and Barcley was good but [its] cost was astronomical. [Our] cost is now much better and quality of service is maintained.”
Councilor David Marnell, who initiated the review, said it’s important to look at services periodically, be them legal, in accounting or with any contract agency that works for the town.
Councilor John Loeffler suggested this type of evaluation become an annual process. If the board became concerned with any of its appointed firms, it would have an opportunity to send out requests for proposals, which are not required for professional services under state law.
“We’re in a situation where in the last four years we have the best of all worlds,” he said. “Intangibles. In four years, I don’t know if the town has ever lost any case. I don’t know how you value that. We have a situation where I have never seen it. Accessibility. Tim’s here. That part of the service I don’t know how you put in an RFP. We’re the beneficiaries of [a] proven track record.”
“It brought to light a number of costs and quality of service to the forefront [on Jan. 12] for everyone to see,” Theobald said. “For myself and the board, Harris Beach is a quality organization and we are receiving an excellent service at a very good price.”
The next review will most likely be with the town engineer, Theobald said, adding it would remain internal unless the board majority decides otherwise.
In other news:
The town of Manlius Police Department last week earned its second AAA of Western and Central New York platinum award at a ceremony given by the Onondaga County Traffic Safety Advisory Board. The department was among eleven officers and five other police departments recognized at the 23rd annual event.
The board will next meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday Jan. 26 at the Manlius Town Hall, 301 Brooklea Drive in Fayetteville.
