Merrillville council spreads legal work to five attorneys

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Updated: March 11, 2012 8:37AM

MERRILLVILLE — The Town Council voted Thursday to replace its former town attorney with five attorneys from five law firms in what it hopes will be a cost-saving move.

“We decided to spread it out, to try something new,” Council President Shawn Pettit, D-6th, said at the special meeting held solely for that purpose.

“We’ll see how divvying up the pie works out.”

Pettit said attorney fees were costing the town about $8,500 a month, or $96,000 a year.

He said the five attorneys will split a retainer of $6,000 to $7,000 a month between them and will get a flat rate per meeting.

Pettit said the boards and council will be judicious about which meetings the attorneys will attend.

For instance, he said, if the police commission is not taking any disciplinary action at a meeting there is no reason to spend $135 an hour to have an attorney present.

“We’re trying to save costs in this financially strapped town. We’re trying to see if we can save the taxpayers some money,” Pettit said.

“We now have five qualified attorneys from five different firms,” Town Administrator Howard Fink said.

John Bushemi, a Merrillville attorney who once served as the attorney for the Merrillville council and police commission, was named the Town Council attorney.

Jim Meyer, a Gary attorney with experience in environmental law, was chosen as the Stormwater Management Board attorney.

Susan Severtson, who served as a Gary city attorney and is moving into a Merrillville law office, was chosen the Police Commission attorney.

Lake Station attorney Michael Deppe was named the attorney for unsafe buildings and court, and Merrillville attorney William Touchette was named attorney for the Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals. Touchette is also the attorney for the Ross Township Board.

The appointments were effective immediately, with the exception of courts.

Pettit said Severtson will handle courts until April 1, by when Deppe hopes to have moved some pending court cases. Deppe will begin immediately with unsafe buildings, Pettit said.

Fink said the town received applications from about 50 law firms. Councilman Tom Goralczyk, D-4th, said seven were interviewed. He said all those interviewed have municipal, stormwater or other related experience.