ADOPTED - JANUARY 26, 2010

Agenda Item No. 41

Introduced by the Judiciary and Finance Committees of the:

INGHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

RESOLUTION TO APPROVE CONTRACTS FOR ATTORNEY SERVICES

FOR PROBATE COURT IN GENERAL MATTERS

RESOLUTION #10-028

WHEREAS, the Ingham County Probate Court, in response to recent budget difficulties, seeks to reduce expenses wherever possible while maintaining services; and

WHEREAS, the Probate Court, by statute, must in certain circumstances provide legal counsel to respondents in guardianship, conservatorship, and other matters; and

WHEREAS, the Probate Court has for some time entered into cost-saving contractual relationships with a few local attorneys to provide said required attorney services; and

WHEREAS, the amount of $17,000 is a fair and appropriate amount for the provision of said services for an entire year; and

WHEREAS, the attorneys Robert Refior and Louis Kafantaris have provided these services in the past, have rendered good services, are willing to continue for the 2010 year, and this Court is willing to have them so continue; and

WHEREAS, it is appropriate for each of said attorneys to be compensated one-half of the total contract (i.e., $8,500 each).

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ingham County Board of Commissioners hereby approves Probate Court’s legal counsel service contracts in guardianship, conservatorship, and other matters in an amount not to exceed $17,000 for the 2010 Fiscal Year from the existing Probate Court Budget as follows:

1.   Attorney Robert Refior - not to exceed $8,500; and

2    Attorney Louis Kafantaris - not to exceed $8,500.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Chairperson of the Ingham County Board of Commissioners and the County Clerk are authorized to sign any necessary contractual documents consistent with this Resolution and approved as to form by the County Attorney.

JUDICIARY:  Yeas:  Nolan, Bahar-Cook, Davis, Bupp, Schafer, Dougan

     Nays:  None     Absent:  None          Approved  1/14/10

FINANCE:  Yeas:  Grebner, Tennis, Bahar-Cook, Schor, Holman, Dougan

     Nays:  None     Absent:  None          Approved  1/20/10