Selectmen approve town attorney’s new contract

WINSTED — The Board of Selectmen approved a contract for Town Attorney Kevin Nelligan to continue to provide legal services to the town at their meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 3.At a prior selectmen’s meeting on Nov. 21, the board approved a motion to re-appoint Nelligan as the town attorney.However, during the meeting in November, they did not have a chance to approve a formal contract with Nelligan.The contract sets Nelligan’s rate at $100 an hour for legal services, which is the same rate he charged the previous year.It specifies that any additional costs will be tacked on to the rate, including expenses such as court costs, expert fees, investigative fees and mileage.The contract also specifies that any fees for tax foreclosures would be collected against the person foreclosed on, but the town would foot the bill if the fees are uncollectable.The only issue of discussion concerning Nelligan’s contract at the meeting was revising a paragraph that said Nelligan would attend any Board of Selectmen meetings upon the request of any one of the selectmen or Town Manager Dale Martin.Selectman George Closson requested that the paragraph be changed so only the Town Manager can request Nelligan to attend a meeting.Selectman Candy Perez supported Closson’s request.“Basically we need to do this because the tightness of the budget,” Perez said. “The town manager should be the gatekeeper of all expenses. While [Nelligan] is reasonable in his rates, it’s still expensive to the town.”The contract was altered, which means all requests for Nelligan to attend meetings would be made solely by Town Manager Martin.The selectmen unanimously approved the contract.Selectman Ken Fracasso was not present at the meeting.Nelligan has two offices, one located at 40 Park Place East and one on Ashley Falls Road in North Canaan.