There’s a new law in Independence Township, or at least a new set of lawyers.
Following the recommendation of a subcommittee made up of township Supervisor David Wager, Clerk Shelagh Vanderveen, and Trustee Daniel Kelly, the Independence Township Board of Trustees voted 5-2 to approve the motion. Wagner and Trustee Charles Dunn voted against the motion. Vanderveen made the motion to replace the Karlstrom Cooney legal firm with:
? Secrest Wardle for general tax work;
? Dickinson Wright for bond counsel; and
? Greg Schultz for labor.
Attorney Peter Keenan will be retained for prosecutions.
Subcommittee members did not agree on the recommendation to the board. Vanderveen and Kelly were in favor of the change, while Wagner was not.
?(The Karlstrom Cooney firm) has done a great job for the community,? Wagner said. ‘They’ve done a lot of good for us.?
The change will raise the cost of legal representation for the township by as much as 35 percent, Wagner said.
‘I have to go back and make budget adjustments,? he said.
The increase could result in cuts to other parts of the budget, he said.
Vanderveen said the law firm has had problems, especially with municipal law, which led to the decision to seek replacements.
‘We didn’t feel they were getting our work done in a timely fashion,? she said.
Secrest Wardle was the township’s attorney firm for about 24 years before Karlstrom Cooney replaced them about two years ago. Secrest Wardle helped write many of the township ordinances and documents that come up as issues today. Because of that, they would be more likely to successfully protect the township from any lawsuit, she said.
‘You can’t measure quality in dollars,? she said.
At the Oct. 17 meeting, Dunn said he objected to how information about the prospective firms was handled.
The subcommittee did not provide the materials to board members about the 17 attorney firms applying to represent the township. Because of this, the item should have been tabled, he said.
‘I think it’s inappropriate to be on the agenda,? he said.
The subcommittee was supposed to collect the materials and present them to board members, then the board would discuss them, Dunn said.
‘I for one never received the materials,? he said. ‘This is not consistent with the motion (at the Sept. 19 regular meeting).?
Dunn’s motion to table the matter died without support.
The information was available to board members at the township hall, Kelly said.
Subcommittee members discussed the applications, and it was 2-1 in favor of the change. They took into consideration comments made by trustees at the Sept. 19 meeting, Kelly said.
The subcommittee did not meet formally, but should have, Wagner said.
‘There was no 2-1 vote,? he said.
At the Oct. 17 meeting, Vanderveen ‘called the question? on the issue, which, under Robert’s Rules of Parliamentary Procedure, ended debate and required a vote.
‘I’m very disappointed with what just happened ? it’s unbelievable,? Wagner said just after the vote.
‘As Neil Wallace has said, there’s a long-standing tradition of letting people talk. I agree with that,? Wagner said.
The decision is effective Nov. 1.