Independence Twp. hires outside counsel
AVELLA – Some Independence Township residents are questioning the hiring of an outside law firm to represent the municipality in an undisclosed labor and employment matter at $300 an hour.
The day after a special meeting was advertised, township supervisors after a brief executive session voted unanimously Friday to approve the hiring of Phillip J. Binotto from the Pittsburgh law firm Steptoe & Johnson.
“This is absurd. How can the supervisors call a meeting and don’t tell us what it’s about? This was advised by the solicitor, according to them, and he doesn’t show. There’s no one from (Gary Sweat’s) law firm here. That’s suspicious to me,” said Jim Fusarelli.
Melissa Melewsky, media law counsel for Pennsylvania News Association, said nothing illegal happened with the absence of an attorney.
“There’s nothing in Sunshine Law that requires a solicitor being present, so long as they got the advice to hold this meeting and act upon specific items,” Melewsky said.
A staff member with Sweat’s law firm who answered the phone Friday said he was out of town and would return Monday.
“Gary said this is nothing we can talk about. He recommended that we not say anything, as it’s a personnel matter. He recommended we seek outside council specifically for this issue, as no one at his firm specializes in labor law,” said supervisors Chairman Tom Jennings.
Supervisor Joyce McKenzie said, “We’re not at liberty to discuss these things right now.”
Supervisor Lou Brandenburg’s motion to hire Binotto at the rate of $300 an hour did not include a provision for a cap on time or money.
“We’re handing over a blank check,” Fusarelli said. “There should have been a ceiling, some sort of limit.”
Melvin Valduga said he was suspicious of the timing of the meeting, which was at 10 a.m.
“An apparently critical, emergency vote, and the board can’t hold this meeting in the evening when more people could be here?” Valduga said.
Jennings said the urgency of the hire required immediate action and that the meeting was open to the public. About a dozen people were present.