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Williamsport City Council is expected to review an amended legal contract Thursday that includes what was described by the administration as a slight bump in the rates paid to a law firm representing the city as solicitor.
With the recent departure of solicitor and attorney Norm Lubin, Austin White, the solicitor with McCormick Law has requested the change in rates charged to the city due to increased workload, according to Mayor Derek Slaughter.
The rates per hour would go, if approved, to $150 for a partner, $135 for associates, $75 for paralegals and $275 per meeting. It assumes a general $25 increase and is in line with what the firm is charging Lycoming County, according to Mayor Derek Slaughter, addressing the city finance committee.
The administration is in the process of preparing a request for proposals. Those on the committee viewed this request as reasonable and a stop gap measure.
Councilman Randy Allison weighed in on how the next firm selected might be from outside of the city.
"I think that balance would be good," he said. "We are a big enough city to need two solicitors but small enough that there can be conflicts at times. I would like to see what that would look like if not in the city or maybe not in the county if possible."