The Town of Athabasca’s legal costs are on the rise, and show no signs of stopping.
To date this year, the town has spent $21,397.49 on legal fees – more than twice the $10,000 amount allotted in the budget.
Town chief administrative officer Josh Pyrcz pointed out that the town has reached out for legal advice on more occasions than in the past, upping the legal costs.
“But that all stems from my belief that bylaws and policies should be reviewed by legal counsel before they are brought for discussion,” he said.
The biggest item on the town’s legal fee list this year is the “Application for Councillor Disqualification” against Mayor Roger Morrill and Coun. Tim Verhaeghe, which came to a total of $10,343.45.
Town Coun. Tanu Evans – who made the motion to rescind the February disqualification motions at the July 19 council meeting – said in an email that he would not speak about the town’s legal fees with respect to those motions.
“Perhaps a more relevant side to this story would be the fees themselves, and how lawyers are normally beyond the financial reach of most everyday Canadians, and that their fees continue to increase,” he wrote.
Coun. Tim Verhaeghe said he gives Evans credit for making the motion to rescind the disqualification motions, and he commends him for that.
“It is definitely not worth spending taxpayers’ dollars on a legal opinion, because there never was a liability to the town, and that’s why they won’t talk about it,” he said. “I’d like to give you more information, but I’m not even allowed to see the legal opinion.”
– With files from Dali Carmichael
