Legal Fee Excess? Press Enterprise Editorial
ELSINORE MAGAZINE 2
July 23, 2005
LEGAL - FEE EXCESS
As written by The Press Enterprise Editorial
Lake Elsinore should consider hiring a full time
City Attorney __ as recommended last week by
the Riverside County Grand Jury __ Instead of
perpetuating an expensive contract with an outside
firm.
The grand jury's report chides the city for spending too much
money on the law firm Van Blarcom, Leibold, McClendon and Mann.
The city has paid up to $ 800,000 a year to its attorney Barbara Leibold.
And Lake Elsinore has budgeted for $550,000 in legal fees for the upcoming
fiscal year.
Cities Lake Elsinore's size typically pay city attorneys $ 125,000 to $ 175,000, annually plus benefits, although some cities also hire assistant city
attorneys and other support staff that boost the cost of in-house counsel.
At the least, the city should audit the expenses of Leibold firm.
As the grand jury noted, Lake Elsinore officials have renewed
the city's contract with the Orange-based law firm for seven
years without an open bidding process.
The city pays a $ 7,000 a month retainer pluss $155 an hour for
unspecified services.
Taxpayers have the right to know what they're getting for their money.
And the Lake Elsinore's treasurer Peter Weber agrees that the city might save
money by hiring a city attorney.
The city council would do well to audit both approaches:
outside councel versus city attorney__ and use the data to
pick the cost -effective course.
The Press ENTERPRESS wrote this above article July 6, 2005
A newspaper article showed that the Riverside County counsel
get paid only $180,000 annually. All are much lower than the
$550,00 to $ 800,000. paid city attorney Leibold.
EM 2 highly suspect that a majority council will not replace the city's attorney
for an in- house attorney because suspicion is on the rise that some councilpersons
have a need to cover up wrong doing.
Notice the council has did nothing about any of the improprities
it has become obvious that they would attempt to cover up
wrong doing.
What a joke for the city of Lake Elsinore to believe they can pay big
bucks to restore the city's image, when the real problem
is in-house. The projection of poor management. Mr. and Mrs.
councilperson please do not use any tax monies
to put a bandage on the problem. The citizens deserve better!!!
posted by Elsinore Magazine 1 | 10:25 PM
1 Comments:
EM2 have some questions for COUNCILWOMAN Genie Kelley:
What will you do about the city attorney's Finances as RECOMMENDED by the grand jury REPORT? Why the need to keep this over paid attorney? Is she SHARING the money? Other cities and counties use an in house attorney at not more than about $180 thousand annually. Why not in the city of Lake Elsinore? As the city treasuer requested the city should RECOUP some of the overpay to the city attorney. For the most part and according to records this city have not benefit from Leibold, LEGAL ACTIONS. CLOSER, TO ILLEGAL ACTIONS. WHY WHY WHY? THE NEED TO KEEP THIS OVERPAID ATTORNEY?
As for the BOYS, GIRLS CLUB it is way overdue. But after reading your RAMBLING COMMENTS in the today's California Newspaper. I am afraid it will under the usual POOR MANAGEMENT PRACTICES turn out as the SKATEPARK turned out. How will the KIDS get all the way to Alberhill? Especially all the way from your community? No bus transportation? I attended a regular council meeting when I heard you tell the PUBLIC that the skatepark is turning a profit. ACCORDING TO THE GRAND JURY REPORT that was an untrue told to the public by you Mrs Kelley. How about Castle & COOK building a community OLYMPIC size swimming pool where as family's can go and take there children In HOT!!!! weather? Why the developers were never asked under your WATCH to already have build a swimming pool as is in the community you live in. Its a good thing. But old Elsinore should of already had a
swimming pool. And why Castle & Cook? Is there something cooking with Castle & Cook the public don't know about? Is Castle & Cook a Murdock developer? I Have noticed every proposal you ever made never in an overall benefit to the whole community.
How much are you involved in the Lake Elsinore Citizens Committee
and Lake Elsinore's BETTER TIMES.Who Pays for the colorful expensive 8 page magazine? Certainly not the 400 members at $5.00 per year? Who is footing that expensive bill? Folks a RAT SMELLS HERE!!!!!!!! Why Donna Franson do not conduct here meetings in a Roberts Rule of Order Manner? where as REPORTS are given on how much money are in the BANK ACCOUNT etc.?
I suspect it is all somehow politically motivated to you Mrs. Kelley and only a few benefit more than anything. It is the sneakish way to be political as if the citizens cannot see through all the FLUFF and STUFF. you all are trying to tell us RED is GREEN. We see better than that. Does the PUBLIC KNOW ABOUT THE HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS of DOLLARS CONTRIBUTRED TO YOU AND YOUR CO HORTS 2003 CAMPAIGN. We believe you are never up to any good to the full community. It is driven by SELF SERVING? You see Mrs. Kelley We PREDICT THAT you will be exposed for the CROOK we believe THAT you ARE. You are SANDWICHED IN, NO where to run, NO where to HIDE any longer. And RIGHTFULLY so.!!!! EXAMPLE: You are BELIEVED to be Involved in coverup of WRONG DOING at the City of Lake Elsinore. It is believed UNDER YOUR WATCH you know all about what the employees are doing that are not KOSHER. It is FURTHER believed you and some of your co horts have been involved for a long time. The Leaks are coming out!!!!
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