Legal expenses

According to a preliminary review of Township records, Township Solicitor Karl H. Kline was paid $126,000 for legal fees in 2006 and $103,000 thus far (through August) in 2007 for legal services.

As we understand it, and we are still verifying this information, this does not include legal work done, and fees paid to other attorneys (i.e. as Stephen Goodsouzian, Michael Shay, etc.) on behalf of Forks Township.

In looking at a national survey of salaries paid to Lawyers, wouldn’t we be better served by hiring one full-time attorney for Forks Township? Even with benefits, it certainly seems that we would save money, plus, we would have the services of a full-time attorney with a fixed salary.

We are hoping that the Board of Supervisors will take a serious look at this. Perhaps Board member C. David Howell, an Attorney himself, will champion this effort.