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Regular Village Board meetings are typically held at 7:00 p.m., the first three Tuesdays of each month in Council Chambers of Village Hall (room 201), 123 Madison St. When a Regular Meeting falls on a holiday, the meeting typically is held the following night. The Village Board also meets in special sessions from time to time. However, dates and times of Special Meetings can vary and may change.

File #: RES 24-349    Name:
Type: Resolution Status: Passed
In control: President and Board of Trustees
On agenda: 12/3/2024 Final action: 12/3/2024
Title: A Resolution Approving the Engagement of Attorneys/Law Firms for Legal Services to be Performed on Behalf of the Village of Oak Park for the 2025 Fiscal Year.
Attachments: 1. Law Firms Resolution 2025.pdf

Submitted By                     

Kevin J. Jackson, Village Manager

 

Reviewed By

Ahmad M. Zayyad, Deputy Village Manager

 

Agenda Item Title

Title

A Resolution Approving the Engagement of Attorneys/Law Firms for Legal Services to be Performed on Behalf of the Village of Oak Park for the 2025 Fiscal Year. 

End

Overview

Overview

Since 2012, it has been standard protocol for the Village Manager to bring all engagements for contractual legal services to the Village Board for authorization in the event that through the course of a calendar year, the costs of services were to exceed $50,000.

End

 

Recommendation

Recommendation

Adopt the Resolution

 

Background

Pursuant to Section 2-5-1 of the Oak Park Village Code, the Village Manager is authorized to employ legal counsel for the various needs of the Village. The Village Board is further authorized to approve the engagement of independent contractors for the purpose of handling specific legal matters per Section 2-6-1 of the Code which requires all contracts over $50,000 to be authorized by the Village Board. The request for authorization is being presented in the event that the total cost for hourly services would exceed $50,000 for any individual firm. The engaged firms provide representation to the Village in labor negotiations, prosecution of traffic offenses, defense of Workers’ Compensation matters, and to provide general legal services.

 

Fiscal Impact

The fiscal year 2025 budget provides funding for contractual legal services in the General Fund in account #1001-41070-101-530667 with an allocation of $185,000.

 

DEI Impact

N/A

 

Alternatives

The Village could elect to eliminate contractually provided legal services. However, this alternative is not recommended as the diverse nature of municipal services at times necessitates that it is most efficient to engage outside counsel with specific expertise.

 

Previous Board Action

The Board has previously approved similar items in FY 2024 (RES 24-106), FY 2023 (RES 22-297), FY 2022 (RES 21-322), FY 2021 (RES 21-52); FY 2020 (RES 20-017), FY 2019 (RES 19-53), FY 2018 (RES 18-756), FY 2017 (RES 17-463), FY 2016 (RES 16-100), FY 2015 (RES 15-215 & RES 15-125)

 

Citizen Advisory Commission Action

N/A

 

Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments

N/A

 

Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities

Due to the nature of legal services, there is no opportunity for shared services in this area.