“Williams said he will appoint Fisher, Bessette, Muldowney and McArdle as the village’s law firm, replacing Whiteman, Osterman and Hanna.
This firm currently represents the villages of Massena and Tupper Lake; the towns of Constable, Moira and Malone; government organizations like Franklin County IDA, Malone Housing Authority, Akwesasne Housing Authority and Harrietstown Housing Authority; and school districts in Malone and Tupper Lake.
“This firm’s client list speaks for itself,” Williams said. “They are true subject matter experts in not only the field, but the ‘local’ field.”
Whiteman, Osterman and Hanna ended its engagement with the village last week in an effort to make the administrative transition smooth.
Williams said he wanted to change the village’s legal representation. He also said he wants to consolidate what the new firm does.
The village previously chose to outsource union negotiation and police disciplinary cases to a different law firm. Because these cases don’t go to the village’s legal firm, it doesn’t get a discounted rate. Williams said he wants “more continuity” in the legal firm representing the village in most of its legal matters and will ask Fisher, Bessette, Muldowney and McArdle to take on these cases, too.
Williams plans to promote current Deputy Treasurer Lidia O’Kelly to treasurer to replace Beth Benson, who announced her upcoming retirement in May before the election.
“There’s no better choice out there and we’d be lucky to have her,” Williams said.”
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Cerbone, Aaron. Adirondack Daily Enterprise 5 April 2022.