Local Guest Commentary: Contracted or city attorney: Which is best for Hanford?

I propose that Hanford has reached the point that current contracted attorney services are too expensive and no longer fit Hanford's needs. Hanford cannot afford part-time legal work on a scale that is close to the yearly budget of a large law firm.

Here are reasons I propose a city attorney employee and city offices make good, solid economic sense:

1. A Hanford city attorney would work for one employer, the City of Hanford, no other clients to tend to.

2. The attorney and city legal staff would utilize office space in city owned/leased property.

3. The amount budgeted for each fiscal year will be a known factor.

In the last six months, Hanford's legal expenses have had an uncertain monthly cost. Most people in Hanford have expressed their disapproval with the cost of $250,000/year for a part-time attorney. The actual legal cost is far more for 2008-2009, somewhere in the area of over $400,000.

Most towns, cities, counties and states across the country have full-time attorneys on staff. For instance, Kings County has county counsel. They are the county's legal counsel. For fiscal year 2007-2008, the cost to taxpayers for County Counsel's un-reimbursed costs is $759,000 total. County counsel's staff includes five full-time attorneys, one full-time and one part-time legal secretary, one paralegal, and one legal clerk.

The terms of the contract between Hanford and the attorney's office don't seem too clear either. The city attorney didn't know they would need to devote so much time to working for Hanford.

Dennis Beaver, an attorney from Bakersfield, wrote two articles that were critical of the city attorney's contract. I agree with Mr. Beaver's assessment. Contract terms don't change without negotiation and clear notice to the public. Hanford taxpayer money is paid to the attorney, not someone's personal finances. The bidding process is the best way to compare apples to apples. The city bid this job out, our representatives chose the most expensive firm. Now that firm gets paid more than they bid in their contract that was approved by the council. This is no way to run a business, especially a very big business like a city.

A city attorney office is a common practice approach to having affordable legal service for the City of Hanford. This idea is something all citizens can understand and support.

I believe the city attorney should have management benefits and should require a minimum of 10 years experience in municipal and land use law to ensure Hanford receives the best advice for the City Council, the administration and other commissions, in order to best serve and protect Hanford.

Our elected representatives are ultimately responsible to inquire and report on the expenditures of our public funds. Let's hold them accountable for their actions and decisions. Tell them we want our own lawyer, not one that provides service to anyone with a case and a retainer fee.

(Nov. 8, 2008)