Chairman Kevin Dombrowski
Councilor Andra Ingalls
Councilor Andra Ingalls
Councilor Whit Irwin
Present:
Councilor Whit Irwin
Councilor John Marshall
Councilor John Marshall
Councilor Mary K. McGrattan
Councilor Mary K. McGrattan
Councilor Gary Paul
Councilor Gary Paul
Councilor S. Naomi Rodriguez
Councilor S. Naomi Rodriguez
Councilor Tim Ryan
Councilor Tim Ryan
Councilor Bill Saums
Excused:
III.
1.
BUSINESS OF THE MEETING
MOTION to approve the Mayor’s appointment of the Law Firm Shipman and Goodwin, P.C. of
Hartford, Connecticut as the Town’s Attorney in accordance with Chapter VI. Section 1 of the
Town Charter.
Moved by Councilor Ryan, seconded by Councilor McGrattan
Discussion: Mayor Allyn, III, thanked the Town Council for calling tonight’s special meeting on
short notice. He explained Attorney Paula Anthony, who had replaced Ledyard’s previous
Attorney Meredith Diette, has left her role at Bercham Moses, P.C. to take a position with a
private company. He stated because the Town had several pending legal matters which
included Browns Crossing Bridge, Pumpkin Hill Road, and a Labor issue that it was
important that they not have a gap in legal representation. He stated Shipman and Goodwin,
P.C. has been the town’s labor attorney and because they have many attorneys within their
organization that he was requesting the Town Council approve his selection of the Law Firm
Shipman and Goodwin, P.C. of Hartford, Connecticut, as the Town’s Attorney. He went on to
note because Shipman and Goodwin was the town’s labor attorney that they would provide
the town a reduced rate for litigation matters.
Councilor McGrattan questioned whether the Law Firm of Shipman and Goodwin had a
physical presence in southeastern Connecticut. Mayor Allyn stated the Firm had officed in
Old Lyme, New Haven, and Hartford.
Councilor Ingalls noted that she liked having Meredith Diette as the town’s attorney because
she was local and easily accessible. She questioned what were the things the town looked for
when hiring an attorney for the town. Mayor Allyn stated he agreed with Councilor Ingalls’ in
that Mrs. Diette took great care of Ledyard. He stated in looking for an Attorney to represent
the town that he would look for: :
· A Law Firm that was not local because there was a higher probability that they would
not have a conflict of interest with knowing or representing a client in the area.
· A Law Firm that would have multiple professionals with a variety of specialties within
