92-22 Resolution_ Authorizing increase in Billing Rates for Attorneys Providing Legal Services to the Township.pdf

92-22 April 5, 2022 RESOLUTION WHEREAS, the Township of West Orange has since at least 1996 sought to manage the provision of and billing for legal services through requirements set forth in a document entitled “Billing Requirements for Attorneys Providing Legal Services to the Township of West Orange” (“Attorney Billing Guidelines”), prepared in December,1995, and initially adopted for use by the Township by Resolution #7991-96, adopted by the Township Council on February 27, 1996; and WHEREAS, those initial Attorney Billing Guidelines established in Section III., Hourly Rates, for payment of both partner and associate attorneys at an hourly rate of $80.00; and WHEREAS, by Resolution #49-16, adopted by the Township Council on February 9, 2016, those Section III., partner and associate hourly rates were increased to the hourly rate of $125.00; and WHEREAS, those rates have always been well below market rates and with recent inflationary trends have been falling further behind and requiring further increase to make them more commensurate with current billing rates for legal services for the handling of adversarial matters; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT, AND IT IS HEREBY, RESOLVED, by the Township Council of the Township of West Orange that Section III., of the Attorney Billing Guidelines shall be revised to reflect a rate of $150 per hour for partners and associates, that section III to now state as follows: “The Township of West Orange will pay the hourly rate for attorneys and paraprofessionals which are approved in advance. Rate increases will be honored only if agreed upon in writing by the Township of West Orange.

The Township of West Orange agrees to pay the firm for the performance of legal services based on the following rates per hour: - Partner $150.00 per hour - Associate $150.00 per hour Karen J. Carnevale, R.M.C. Susan McCartney Municipal Clerk Council President Adopted: April 5, 2022 4831-7416-2221, v. 1