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Home My Public Portal About2018-05-22 - Town Council Approval of Town Attorney 2018_1Michael J. Driscoll Town Manager TOWN OF WATERTOWN Office of the Town Manager Administration Building 149 Main Street Watertown, MA 02472 Phone: 617-972-6465 www.watertown-ma.gov townmgr@watertown-i-na.gov To: Honorable Town Council From: Michael J. Driscoll, Town Manager Date: May 17, 2018 RE: Town Council Approval of Town Attorney In accordance with the provisions of the attached Town Council Order #0-2000-40, I hereby request Town Council approval of the firm of KP Law as Town Attorney. The firm of KP Law has served as Town Attorney since April 1993. This firm is comprised of 45 attorneys. All of the attorneys who have primary responsibility for servicing the Town of Watertown are members of the firm. KP Law currently serves as Town Attorney in 129 Massachusetts communities. As you know, Mark R. Reich, Esquire, KP Law has served as the Town's primary attorney since February 2003. Enclosed please find correspondence from Mr. Reich outlining some of the recent matters that the Town Attorney has provided assistance to the Town along with identifying the team of attorneys with expertise in specific areas of municipal law that has been established to serve the Town's various needs. Additionally, in an effort to further improve the efficiency of legal services, Mr. Reich indicates KP Law will provide no -cost seminars and training in areas of particular legal significance, such as the Open Meeting Law, Public Records Law, Conflict of Interest Law, or other topics of particular concern. Based upon their municipal law specialists and their extensive municipal experience, I believe continuing the professional relationship with KP Law as the Town Attorney is in the best interest of the citizens of Watertown. cc: Mark R. Reich, Esquire, KP Law Joseph S. Fair, Esquire, KP Law Department Heads 70 Wn Go Un elf TOWN OF WATERTO)87-N ADMINISTRATION 13 UILDING • WATERTOWN, MA 02472.4410 (617)972-6470 • PAX (617)972-6485 ORDER #40 0-2000.40 161ENNIAL TOWN COUNCIL APPROVAL OF TONVN ATTORNEY AND GENERAL LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDERS) WHEREAS, the City known as the Town of Watertown relies exclusively on the'services of a consulting law firm(s) for its Town Attorney and General Legal Services; and, WHEREAS, in accordance with the Torn Charter, the Town Manager appoints Town Attorney and General Legal Services Providers) subject to the approval of the Town Council; and,. WHEREAS, Town Attorney and General Legal Services are essential to the effective operation of the Town of Watertown; and, WHEREAS, the Town Council of the City known as the Town of Watertown is one of the major users of Town Attorney and General Legal Services;.and, WHEREAS, the Town Council believes that it is in tine public interest for the Town Council to review and approve or reject biennially the Town Manager's appointment(s) for Town Attorney and General Legal Services provider(s); NOW THEREFORE BE IT OnERED: That the Town Council of the City known as, the Town of Watertown does hereby direct that the Town Manager shall on or before the first of June of every other year, commencing in the year 2002, provide to the Town Council all of the materials necessary to enable the Town Council to review and approve or reject the Town Manager's appointment(s) for Town Attorney and General Legal Services provider(s) for fire next fiscal year prior to the start of that next fiscal year, and, Town of Watertown Pago 1 of 2 0-2000.40 BE IT FURTEER ORDERED: That the Town Council of the City known as the Town of Watertown does hereby direct that the Town Manager shall on or before the first of September, 2000 provide to the Town Council all of the materials necessary to enable the Town Council to review and approve or reject the Town Manager's appointnnent(s) for Town Attorney and General Legal Services providers) for fiscal year 2001, with said Town Council approval or rejection to be decided not later than the thirtleth of September, 2000, Town Council Melnber T hereby certify that at a regular meeting of the Town Council for which a quorum was present, the above Order was adopted by a vote of 9 - For, 0 - Against and 0 % Present on June 27, 2000, Ila /, ow patol- Town Council 'lerk Town Council Pr ide t Town of Watertown Pago 2 of 2 0-2000.40 r:Q� The Leader in Public Sector Law May 17, 201 S Mr. Michael J. Driscoll Town Manager Watertown Administration Building 149 Main Street Watertown, MA 02472 Re: Town Attorney Services Dear Mr. Driscoll: 101 Arch Street, Boston, MA 02110 Tel: 617.556.0007 I Fax: 617.654.1735 www.k.plaw.com Mark R. Reich mrelch@k-plaw.com It is again my pleasure to write to you regarding the biennial appointment of the Town Attorney for the City known as the Town of Watertown. As you are aware, KP Law has served the Town as the Town Attorney for twenty-five years. In this role, the firm has worked closely with the various boards and department as well as the Town Council to address the Town's legal requirements, I am happy to note the recent significant matters in which KP Law has assisted the Town. We worked closely with the administration and the Town Council to negotiate and complete the disposition of the East Branch Library. We advised the Department of Public Works on the complex Safe Routes to Schools project as well as a number of other street and real estate projects. We worked closely with the Town Council to review and respond to applications from registered marijuana dispensaries and issues with the evolving state law legalizing marijuana establishments. We have assisted the Town with the implementation of Community Preservation Act. We continue to review the pending noise bylaw to address concerns of the public and the regulation of business operations. As labor counsel, we assisted the Town Manager in concluding collective bargaining agreements with various unions, including the firefighter's union. This list of matters in which KP Law has been involved demonstrates the breadth of our involvement in the Town. I have served as the Town's primary attorney for fifteen years, attending meetings of the Town Council and working with you and your department heads and staff to address the Town's legal hatters and provide accurate and timely legal advice. Also available to the Town is an established team of attorneys with expertise in specific areas of municipal law to serve the Town's various needs. Attorney Joseph S. Fair will be responsible for advising the Town on labor and employment matters. Attorney Fair will also serve as my back-up attorney for those times when I am not immediately available to you. Attorney Carolyn M. Murray shall be available to provide advice regarding matters of land use and development. Attorney Katharine L. Klein will attend to KP Law, P.C. I Boston • Hyannis • Lenox • Northampton • Worcester Mr. Michael J. Driscoll Town Manager May 17, 2018 Page 2 the Town's real estate needs. Additional attorneys will be available to serve the Town on specific matters as required, giving the Town the full benefit of serviced KP Law has to offer. The attorneys working for the Town have extensive experience working with the Town and so can provide timely and efficient advice on a full range of matters. As part of Town Attorney services, I will be available to meet with you and the Town Council in executive session to review pending litigation. I will also be available to meet with Town staff to review ongoing matters. Also, the firm will provide no -cost seminars and training in areas of particular legal significance, such as the Open Meeting Law, Public Records Law, Conflict of Interest Law, or other topics of particular concern. I am proud of this firm's accomplishments in Watertown and remain dedicated to providing the level of service required by the Town in a timely manner. I strive to remain accessible to you and Town officials as you deal with the difficult process of managing the Town on a daily basis. It remains a privilege to serve as Town Attorney for the City known as the Town of Watertown. If you have any questions on this or any other matter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Very truly yours, Mark R. Reich MRR/bp 625410/WATR/0001