City Won't Be Able To Pay Lawyer Fees

The city of Hoboken will have to tell its lawyers to stop working for the city, said Business Administrator Arch Liston, after the city council failed to approve more than $600,000 in legal fees during a special meeting on Tuesday night. 

The money that was supposed to be approved, is for services already rendered to the city.

A resolution on Tuesday night's agenda called for $600,000 in legal fees for rent control litigation and outstanding cost for bankruptcy settlement proceedings with the Hoboken Hospital.

Emergency appropriations need six votes to pass, but only five council members—the mayor-backed council majority—voted in favor.

At the meeting, Corporation Counsel Mark Tabakin said the amount was closer to $700,000.

Second Ward Councilwoman and critic of the administration Beth Mason said she wouldn't vote to approve the resolution, because she wasn't informed about the cost and the fact that it had to be paid for with emergency appropriations.

"Not once did it come up," said Mason, riled up after the meeting.

The lawyers could now sue the city for the money they are owed for the work they've done. 

Both Mason and Third Ward Councilman Michael Russo said the money should come out of the city's surplus. Liston said that roughly $600,000 of the city's $5 million surplus is left.

Tabakin said the extra money came about because the "not to exceed amounts" in the contracts were exceeded.

During the roughly three-hour long meeting that was filled with yelling and bickering, the four-member council minority said they wouldn't approve the funds, saying it should come from the city's surplus.