The West Windsor Township Council approved a $243,920 contract with attorney Michael Herbert for the upcoming year.
Of the entire contract with Herbert’s firm, Herbert, Van Ness, Cayci, & Goodell, $20,000 is provided directly for work Herbert performs for the Township Council and clerk’s office, “which includes attendance at council meetings and providing legal advice to the township and clerk,” explained Business Administrator Robert Hary.
The remainder of the costs cover a combination of legal advice as well as litigation costs and helping to draft ordinances and other legal documents requested by the administration, and other costs.The council approved the contract at the June 27 meeting.
The contract has not increased and includes Herbert’s agreement to cap his bills to council once the $20,000 is reached. Herbert will not bill for costs exceeding $20,000. Over the last year, Herbert already used that allocation, and he had to provide some services free of charge, said Hary.
Herbert’s firm has not raised its fees in six years.
Councilman Charles Morgan, who voted against the contract, asked why bids had not been solicited from a number of law firms so that the council could choose a firm that charged the lowest cost.
Herbert said during the meeting that he did not reduce his fees by 5 percent, as the other professionals within the township had done, but he pointed to the $20,000 cap and also noted that his firm is the lowest paid of all the attorneys working for the township.
“I represent towns where I charge more than that, and I don’t think it’s fair to them,” Herbert said.
