Yellow Springs Village special meeting
WHAT: The law firms will give 20 minute presentations on their services.
WHEN: 6 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 28
WHERE: John Bryan Community Center, 100 Dayton Street, Yellow Springs
Council and residents will hear presentations on Wednesday from three law firms being considered to represent the village.
Coolidge Wall Co., L.P.A., based in Dayton, currently provides for legal services for the village on month-to-month basis. Christopher Conrad, an attorney with the firm, serves in the role of village solicitor, and under the agreement, Coolidge Wall is paid $165 per hour for services.
In addition to Coolidge Wall, Frost Brown Todd LLC, of Columbus, and Bricker & Eckler, of West Chester, will also give presentations.
“The firm will have a representative who will be a contact, but the entire firm will back them up,” said Yellow Springs Village Manager Patti Bates.
The ideal firm will have experience with working with issues related to personnel, the Affordable Healthcare Act and municipal government, said Yellow Springs Village Councilman Brian Housh
“We’re really looking for expertise,” he said.
Seven firms, including a personnel firm, responded to the village’s request for proposals.
The council hopes to make a decision on a firm by the Feb. 2 meeting.
The village’s legal expenses dropped 32 percent to $77,605.94 in 2014 compared to the previous year when it spent $114,875.37, according to village data.
This year, the village has budgeted $128,500 for legal expenses, however the village will negotiate the amount of the contract once a firm has been selected, according to Bates.
On Wednesday, each firm will take questions from the public in addition to giving a presentation on the services it offers. The firms will also answer questions from the village council during an executive session.
“The village, as a practice, should do RFQs on things like legal services, engineering services, etc., periodically,” Bates said. “This ensures that the village is getting the best price and also the best fit for the village and the direction it needs to go.”
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