There being no office of Town Attorney established in the Town
of Beekman, pursuant to Town Law § 20(2)(b) the Town Board
may employ an attorney to give it such professional service and advice
as it may require.
The Attorney to the Town may be a law firm or an individual
and need not be a resident of the Town of Beekman.
The Town Board and the Attorney to the Town shall agree on those
services which shall be performed in the scope of the position and
upon those which shall be excluded. The Town Board may employ such
other attorneys as may be required for services outside the scope
of the position, where conflict of interest or other ethical considerations
prevent the Attorney to the Town from acting on a particular matter,
or where special expertise is required.
If a law firm, the Attorney to the Town shall be an independent
contractor compensated on an agreed-upon basis evidenced by monthly
billings and vouchers in proper form. An individual Attorney to the
Town may be compensated in the same manner or as a salaried employee,
including such benefits as the Town Board may determine. In such case,
pursuant to Town Law § 27(1), said salary shall be in lieu
of all other compensation. Notwithstanding, the employee may be reimbursed
actual expenses or disbursements as provided by Town employment policies
and upon presentation of proper vouchers therefor.
The Attorney to the Town shall serve for the duration provided
in its agreement with the Town or, if a salaried employee, shall serve
at the pleasure of the Town Board.
Nothing herein shall prohibit the Town Board from compensating
or ratifying the terms of compensation of an attorney or law firm
providing services for the Town in good faith at the instance of the
Town Board or Town Supervisor.