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A Resolution Approving the Engagement of a Law Firm to Serve as the Municipal Traffic Prosecutor on Behalf of the Village of Oak Park
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Introduction
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Since 2012, it has been standard protocol for the Village Manager to bring engagements for contractual legal services to the Village Board for authorization from time to time.
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Recommended Action
Adopt the Resolution.
Prior Board Action
The Village has authorized specific firms to represent the Village each fiscal year since 2015.
The Board has previously approved similar items for FY 2025 (RES-24-349 & RES 25-216), 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).
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.
The Village has utilized outside counsel for Municipal Traffic Prosecution since 2011. Among the strategies for reducing spend on external support by the Law Department was to put its Municipal Traffic Prosecution out to bid. The Law Department posted a Request for Proposals for Legal Services - Municipal Traffic Prosecution on the Village website, with the Illinois Municipal League and the Illinois Local Government Lawyers Association.
The Village gave a preference to flat-rate fee proposals rather than typical hourly rate engagements in an effort to reduce overall cost and administrative burden regarding bill review.
The Village has received five (5) proposals from Tressler, LLP; Vasselli Law; Klein, Thorpe and Jenkins, Ltd.; Moore Norton Law Group, Ltd.; and DelGaldo Law Grou...
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