Morrisville school board keeps solicitor on for another year
Posted: Friday, December 16, 2011 12:00 am | Updated: 6:27 am, Fri Dec 16, 2011.
School director John Buckman said Thomas Profy IV has been working on litigation that is unfinished and keeping him on will allow him to finish those cases, such as the district’s withholding of payments to Bucks County Technical High School.
The Morrisville School District unanimously reappointed Thomas Profy IV as solicitor despite financial reservations raised at a board reorganization meeting earlier this month.
Some members are still on the search for a better deal.
Board President John DeWilde said he’s been satisfied with Profy’s work during the past year.
“I’ve never felt that he has done anything on the edge or unsatisfactory,” he said. “I look forward to another year with him.”
The board unanimously voted at Wednesday’s meeting to have Profy of Begley, Carlin and Mandio, based in Middletown, as its legal counsel at $130 per hour, his same rate from the past year.
At the Dec. 5 reorganization meeting, the school directors didn’t appoint a solicitor, but agreed to retain Profy at least until Wednesday.
All five new board members — Wanda Kartal, Damon Miller, Dave Stoneburner, Ted Parker and Alina Marone — want to seek bids from other firms that may charge less.
“I think we’re only doing due diligence by looking at other firms,” board member Damon Miller said.
School director Wanda Kartal said a request for a proposal for a solicitor is being drafted.
“Profy will stay on throughout the year and until we receive other bids and proposals from different firms,” she said. “Even though we voted (Wednesday) to put the bid out, we will approve the paperwork to put that in motion at January’s meeting.”
School director John Buckman agreed with DeWilde’s approval of the solicitor’s work. He said Profy has been working on litigation that is unfinished and keeping him on will allow him to finish those cases, such as the district’s withholding of payments to Bucks County Technical High School.
Morrisville officials believe the tech schoolis overcharging. The district was charged about $740,000 for the 2010-11 school years.
“I’m not opposed to looking at other firms, but when you need a good attorney to present cases, your only consideration shouldn’t be price,” he said.
31 comments:
1 comment:
JWT126 posted at 9:27 pm on Thu, Dec 15, 2011.
Posts: 77
Did the board keep Pat Wandling?
I hope the new members remember how untrustworthy the old board was and look into EVERYTHING that was done under the Hellmann Radosti Mihok regime.
When it comes to the solicitor, I think it's not only the lawsuits you get into that are important, but also the lawsuits you advise the board/admin. NOT to get into.
I recommend that when it comes to the Tech School litigation, new board members should look very closely at the rationale and information supporting MSD's claims that MSD was overcharged under the Tech Articles of Agreement (which contains the Funding Formula). The public info I've seen doesn't bear out these claims. Maybe the non-public info does, maybe it doesn't. But please look into it carefully.
I know I sound like a broken record, but ...
I'm not saying the Funding Formula is fair or good; I'm just saying it doesn't look like MSD was overcharged under the Formula. If that's true, I think the Tech lawsuit is an ill-advised money waster and MSD reputation damager.
Please do the same for any other important litigation.
"School director John Buckman said Thomas Profy IV has been working on litigation that is unfinished and keeping him on will allow him to finish those cases, such as the district’s withholding of payments to Bucks County Technical High School."
Translation: Profy is supporting the pointless crusade I'm working on. I'm not effective enough to present a real case myself so I'm filling the lawyer's pockets with Morrisville taxpayer money to prolong a pointless case while the Morrisville kids suffer.
STOP THE INSANITY!!
I agree. I think the Tech legal case is a loser. All Buckman does is keep spouting the same rote, overly-simplistic "it's unfair" argument. Unfair is one thing, and I wish it was fairer and more predictable too, but legal is another. Is using taxpayer-funded lawsuits to make political statements really the best way to go?
I hope any other legal entanglements the district is involved in are better advised than this.
School choice lovers love school choice ...... except when they don't.
Last night I heard that even though Morrisville council passed the budget for 2012 with no tax increase and something like $65 back to the residents on their trash bill, the mayor vetoed the budget yesterday. I think if she vetoes something she has to give the reason why although I also know that she has vetoed things in the past without a reason. This is just unbelievable even for Rita. Does this act stop our local government at the end of December? Would things close like borough hall, the library and the police dept? I hope anyone who voted for Debbie Smith over Rhonda Davis is paying attention to this because in doing so you gave Rita all the veto power that she has been lacking in the past two years.
But then again I cannot believe anyone actually voted for Rita as mayor. Can she be impeached? I know this is just a black mark on her record (LOL) and would not take her out of the mayor's seat.
This is just politics as usually in Morrisville and it makes me pretty angry. I can see where Morrisville is actually getting somewhere for a change and I know it must drive Jane Burger and her puppets nuts (more nuts?) but this is ridiculous.
What happens if the police dept has to close? Does it then fall under the state police? I have no knowledge of this & am wondering.
This is a pretty crappy thing for the mayor to do.
I know that Jane Burger didn't like how some of the line items were put together from her statement at public comment, but I'm sorry that is no reason for Rita to veto the budget. I saw at the last meeting that Eileen had trouble reading the budget, even though nothing had changed about the way its put together. My first thought was that she had never actually read the budgets from one year to the next even though she has been on council for years.
Rita has been trouble for as long as I can remember. This is just not a surprise. Watching Burgers cronies screw up Morrisville is getting pretty old.
Can Ledger's veto be overridden??
The Leder veto is the gift she keeps on giving. Last year it was the pool. This year what's it about?
http://www.buckslocalnews.com/articles/2011/01/01/yardley_news/news/doc4d1a63c59b3fd835711949.txt?viewmode=fullstory
If Ledger forces a shutdown it should have the same effect it had on Newt Gincgrich in the 1990's.
15 years of ethics scandal and using their former position to feed from the taxpayer trough followed by ...............
Ledger for US President in 2028!!!!!!!!!
Leder? Left out the g. As in g, I wonder who the hell voted for her???I voted for Graham Thompson to bring bucket trucks full of dignity and class back to the Ville.
You're right, last year it was the pool. Am I remembering it correctly? She used the veto on the budget last year because of the pool, telling the public there was no debt on the pool, which was obviously a lie.
"Leder? Left out the g. As in g, I wonder who the hell voted for her???I voted for Graham Thompson to bring bucket trucks full of dignity and class back to the Ville."
Pretty funny stuff - nice job!
Ledger loves to waste Morrisville's money, my money. I just don't get how anyone would follow her. Because of her veto, there will have to be a special meeting called at the end of this year to vote on the budget again. What a waste of money. Nice job Rita. Don't forget to put this on your fake resume for the next time you run for something in Morrisville.
I havent voted for any of the Burgerbots in the last six elections. Dont you people understand? Burgerbots destroy Morrisville.
http://www.christianclips.com/video/130/Old-Glory-Robot-Insurance
I herd you can get protection from Burgerbots with a policy from Old Glory Insurance. Think about it for when they come for you...... and they will.
"This stuff was presented before, you had your chances to ask questions, you know what we're going to do, what more do you want, more meetings?"
Jack Buckman
April 2010
Apparently she does want more meetings and she's entitled to them as a High Public Official as opposed to just some whinny sandpounding bloghead.
Entitled to spending taxpayer money to have more meeting is what you're saying.
High public official? She’s supposed to be Morrisville’s PR person and she cannot even seem to handle that.
Entitled? You have just driven home the point that I have read on this blog many, many times. Morrisville needs representatives who will help, not hurt, not abuse the power of their position, and not have any sense of entitlement. I believe some on council know this and are trying to do what they think is right for the town. People like Rita Ledger, Burger and their friends are the dinosaurs of a political machine that can be attributed for many of what’s wrong with Morrisville today and in my mind they have no place in its future plans. They have more than proven themselves to be lacking in what is truly needed to help Morrisville. They do not have the desire or the ability to do what is right other than to their own gain in some way. Take this veto for instance, is it really what is best for Morrisville or is Rita simply doing this because she can. She may show others that she is in charge of this veto but she is in fact showing the entire town why she should not be in control of anything.
To be fair, I think the people being denigrated here are trying their best to do what they think is right and best for the Ville. I don't disagree that their choices have historically had many bad outcomes. I don't want to believe that they are some kind of evil either. They have different philosophies and differing values on what's most important. That being said, they should be confronted with the consequences of their decisions and actions, and they should have the decency and forthrightness to be open and honest in their dealings. They should also have the moral fortitude to abdicate their roles as leaders if they are not prepared to do what it takes to fulfill their responsibilities. If a SB or council member can't find the time to arrive at a meeting appropriately prepared, they should recognize this and step aside to allow someone else who can take the reins.
I can agree with most of what was said here.
In a perfect world I would agree with all that was said directly above. As anyone paying attention sees, some people are not in these things for the betterment of Morrisville. All of the people talked about above have already proven what they are/are not made of in my eyes. Some people (more I hope) have good intentions, but I absolutely do not think this applies to everyone. For some its control or power or being a big fish in a little pond, some want to serve their friends and some have both old and new spitefulness towards others. Not everyone is on the same playing field so to speak. School board campaigns should have been a lesson in this. People do things for different reasons. My opinion is that I will in no way willingly go back to the way things were in Morrisville when Burger, Ledger, Hellmann, Mihok and their friends were running things. I do not believe these people are thinking of Morrisville above their own personal gain.
Replacements for Rita Ledger as Mayor please begin stepping up.
The election is Nov 2013.
I know of someone who is strongly considering the run for mayor who is extremely qualified and I have no doubt will win the seat. This has been told to me personally by this person. I do not feel that it is appropriate for me to make this person's name public, that is up to this person.
Gaeme Thomson? LMAO Totally just kidding!
There's a lot of good candidates out there. Bill Hellmann and Al Radosti have the administrative experience. Jane Burger, Steve Worob, and Jack Buckman all have the strong boro council experience background. Marlys Mihok is a longtime advocate for Morrisville. Any of them would an excellent choice for mayor after Rita Ledger completes eight years in the office.
trying to kill me?
i hope that was a joke list of candidates
Had a crappy day at work today, came home, sat down at my computer and had a good laugh. Thanks for that.
Pennsbury school board in search of the 'most qualified' solicitors
Posted: Thursday, December 29, 2011 12:00 am | Updated: 6:42 am, Thu Dec 29, 2011.
By Joan Hellyer Staff Writer | 1 comment
The Pennsbury school board is accepting proposals through Tuesday from area law firms to provide legal services to the district.
The board voted 5-4 on Dec. 15 to “perform due diligence in exploring options for the delivery of its legal services.”
In making the motion, Vice President Simon Campbell said the exploration is needed “to determine whether or not the district has the most qualified and cost effective legal services available.”
The split board directed administrators to get proposals for bond counsel, construction litigation, assessment appeals, special education work, employment work, and “other issues that would confront the district on a regular basis.”
Campbell, President Allan Weisel, Chris Cridge, Steve Kosmorsky and Kathleen Zawacki voted to direct the administration to request the proposals for legal services.
Howard Goldberg, John Palmer, Jacqueline Redner and Gary Sanderson voted against seeking the proposals.
Sanderson voiced concerns that the new board majority, seated on Dec. 5, had an “ulterior motive” for seeking the legal services proposals.
“I have no problem with seeing if we have the best services, but as soon as it gets political, it is just not right,” Sanderson said.
The board’s current solicitor, Wisler Pearlstine, will automatically be invited to interview for the same position the firm was appointed to in May, according to the motion.
Wisler Pearlstine’s compensation includes a $16,000 retainer and hourly fee of $155 for work done by the firm’s partners and $140 an hour for services provided by Wisler Pearlstine associates.
The appointment made earlier this year was supposed to run until June 2012, but the board can change the agreement at any time, said Michael Kristofco, the board solicitor.
“I serve at the pleasure of the board,” Kristofco said at the Dec. 15 meeting.
Campbell, Weisel and Sanderson will interview law firms that submit proposals. The interviews, according to the motion, will be completed by Jan. 12. Board members who aren’t on the interview committee will be able to observe the interviews, but cannot ask questions or make comments, according to the motion.
During its Jan. 19 meeting, the board plans to vote on the firms that the committee recommends be hired to perform legal services between Feb. 1, 2012 and June 30, 2013.
Help me out here 'cuz I don't get it. How can P-bury look into switching lawyers? Pennsbury is in the middle of a big multimillion $$$$ lawsuit Re: the student who lost her leg in a tragic school bus accident. I thought it was bad to switch legal horses in midstream with ongoing litigation???The P-bury board members who voted to do it would fit in great with the Morrisville SOC crowd who don't want to do it here. Hence, confusion.
Hypocrisy and politics?
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