The Town Council has directed staff to move forward to issue a request for proposals (RFP) for legal services.

Administrative Services Director Dave Trimble outlined his efforts to prepare the RFP since a council discussion in February. The town is now ready to advertise and take proposals from legal firms.

Last fall the council voted to sever its agreement with Gust Rosenfeld after some council members questioned the handling of a matter with the Park Place developer by Town Attorney Andrew McGuire. The town has hired the firm of Dickinson-Wright on an interim basis.

Trimble said the average cost for legal services for the five years previous to and including 2017 was $275,000 per year. There was an increase in that for 2018 due to the transition and interim situation. The council has approved $400,000 as the tentative total for the 2019 budget. It is not expected to reach that total.

Trimble said the RFP would be advertised in the coming week with a deadline of June 28.

The RFPs would be reviewed by a staff panel to provide a short list. The short list of candidates would be sent to a council subcommittee for review around July 12.

A short list for council interviews would be finalized by Sept. 11, with the objective for council selection Sept. 18.

Town Manager Grady Miller said he expects a good response to the RFP.

This legal agreement is separate from the town prosecutor services.