REPORT OF THE
LITIGATION SUBCOMMITTEE
OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
The Honorable,
The Board of Commissioners of
ATTENDANCE
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Present: |
Chairman Silvestri, Vice Chairman Quigley, Commissioners
Beavers, Collins, Gorman and Suffredin (6) |
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Absent: |
Commissioner Peraica (1) |
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Also
Present: |
Elizabeth Reidy – Deputy Bureau Chief, Civil Actions
Bureau; Gail L. Lutz – Executive Clerk, Public Policy and Human Resources,
Clerk of the |
Ladies and
Gentlemen:
Your Litigation Subcommittee of the Board of
Commissioners of Cook County met pursuant to notice on
Your Subcommittee
has considered the following items and, upon adoption of this report, the
recommendations are as follows:
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287581 |
CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT, Dorothy Brown, transmitting a
Communication: requesting authorization for the Purchasing Agent to enter
into a contract WITH P. NEILL
PETRONELLA (HENNESSY AND ROACH, P.C.), Reason: P. Neill Petronella (Hennessy and Roach,
P.C.) will serve as labor relations consultants for the Clerk of the Circuit
Court. Among other tasks, they will
review correspondence, provide legal research and advice on collective
bargaining issues and represent the office in arbitration proceedings. Estimated Fiscal Impact:
Approval of this item would commit Fiscal Year 2007 and
future year funds. *Referred to the
Finance Litigation Subcommittee on |
Commissioner Suffredin inquired as to why the outside
attorneys involved in this matter are not considered to be special state’s
attorneys.
Elizabeth Reidy, Deputy Bureau Chief, Civil Actions Bureau,
replied that outside attorneys who negotiate on behalf of the County constitute
a gray area in this regard.
Commissioner Suffredin requested that Ms. Reidy research
this issue and inform the Subcommittee of her findings.
Ms. Reidy agreed to do this.
Chairman Silvestri inquired whether amending the above Item
to reflect a contract period start date of
Gail L.
Lutz, Executive Clerk, Public Policy and Human Resources, Clerk of the
Commissioner
Suffredin, seconded by Chairman Silvestri, moved to amend Communication Number
287581 to change the contract period start date of
Commissioner
Suffredin, seconded by Chairman Silvestri, moved the approval of Communication
Number 287581 as amended. The motion carried.
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287583 |
CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT, Dorothy Brown, transmitting a
Communication, dated requesting approval of payment in the amount of $54,720.00
to P. NEILL PETRONELLA (HENNESSY &
ROACH, P.C.), Chicago, Illinois, incurred for labor relations legal
services performed between December 1, 2006 and May 31, 2007. The firm provided 288 hours of legal
counsel at the rate of $190.00 per hour.
(See related Items #5 and 57). Reason: The services were required to ensure
adequate representation of the County’s interests in arbitration
hearings. In addition, the firm
reviewed correspondence, provided legal research, and advised on other
collective bargaining issues.
Implementation of a contract with this firm for this fiscal year was
delayed due to budget concerns. Estimated Fiscal Impact:
$54,720.00. (335-261 Account). *Referred to the Finance
Litigation Subcommittee on |
Commissioner
Suffredin, seconded by Chairman Silvestri, moved to Receive and File
Communication Number 287583. The motion
carried.
Commissioner Suffredin
moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Chairman Silvestri. The motion carried and the meeting was
adjourned.
YOUR COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING ACTION
WITH REGARD TO THE
MATTERS NAMED HEREIN:
Communication
Number 287581 Approve
As Amended
Communication
Number 287583 Receive
and File
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Respectfully
submitted, Litigation
Subcommittee xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Peter N.
Silvestri, Chairman |
Attest:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Matthew B.
DeLeon, Secretary