Deadlocked City Council Unable to Approve Legal Bill

The city council was unable to approve legal bills on Wednesday night, during a meeting filled with petty yelling and heated back-and-forths.

An amendment to a legal bill with the firm Florio, Perucci, Steinhart & Fader of $25,000 — for a total amount not to exceed $50,250 — failed in a 4-4 vote.

Only eight members are currently serving on the city council, often resulting in a deadlock.

The matter pertains to an appeal by a former employee of the city, said city lawyer Melissa Longo. Longo said the money was added to the bill because she recently assigned the firm with a new case.

Florio, Perucci deals with labor matters, Longo said, as well as negotiations with the city's municipal employees union.

The firm of Florio, Perucci also recently responded to a request for qualifications to become the general counsel of the Hoboken Housing Authority.