Attorney Robert Bunting will continue on as Oxford Village’s legal counsel for another three years at the same prices, but one council member wants to find out if the municipality can get a bulk discount.
‘I think it would be a pretty neat idea if part of the contract stated that the more (billable) hours we spent, the lower the price went,? said Councilman Chris Bishop.
Council voted 5-0 to extend the existing professional services agreement with Bunting until July 1, 2010 at the same rates as the previous three-year contract.
Bunting charges the village a $14,000 retainer plus an hourly rate of $125 for work not specifically covered by the retainer.
Councilwoman Teri Stiles called Bunting’s offer to freeze his rates ‘very generous.?
‘With everything going up in price, I just think it’s a fair (contract),? said village President George Del Vigna.
While appreciative of Bunting’s offer, others on council noted it’s not the product of pure altruism.
‘I think municipal work is probably not the best paying job for attorneys, but it is steady paying work for attorneys,? Bishop noted.
Councilman Benner agreed, saying Bunting ‘knows he’s going to get his money? and ‘a certain amount of hours.?
Bishop suggested asking Bunting if he would consider lowering his $125 hourly rate as the number of non-retainer hours billed to the village increases.
‘As the hours go by perhaps we could get a bigger and bigger discount,? he said. ‘We spend a lot on attorney bills. . .The more we spend, the better deal we should get.?
Bishop explained this way ‘there wouldn’t be so much advantage? to bill a lot of hours ‘because the more he goes, the cheaper he’s going to give us his services.?
‘I’m not saying that he does. I’m making no representation that he does that,? the councilman noted.
Bishop also said he’s ‘curious? if any other municipalities have this type of discount arrangement with their attorneys.
He suggested consulting the Michigan Municipal League to find out.
If no other municipality does this, the councilman said, ‘Maybe we go to Bob (and) become the first one.?
It was noted by Acting Clerk Rose Bejma that whenever the village went out for attorney bids in the past, Bunting ‘always came in? at a lower cost.