Seeking letters of interest from qualified attorneys or firms for general legal counsel.
Prefer to contract with a single attorney and/or law firm to provide City Attorney services.
We anticipate entering into negotiations for a professional agreement with the responding attorney/firm selected as best suited to provide these services to the City.
Anticipate completing the selection and award process by May 2024.
Job Number: 02-240307-01: City Counselor
Company Name: City of Boonville, Missouri
Community Profile:
Incorporated in 1839, the City of Boonville is a third-class city under Missouri Statutes. Approximately 8000 people reside in Boonville, which also serves as the county seat for Cooper County. Boonville is in central Missouri, along I-70 and is 30 miles outside of Columbia, Missouri.
The City provides a full range of municipal services, including police, fire, water and sewer, street maintenance, parks and recreation, airport, tourism, animal control, community development, and general administration. The City has about 85 full-time employees year-round and 115 seasonal employees during the summer to support the pool and parks activities.
Scope of Services:
The City Attorney will provide general municipal counsel, basic legal services and advising on special projects. The City requests that one attorney be designated as lead attorney or point of contact for the firm. Accessibility to and a timely response from the attorney is essential to the position.
Minimum qualifications include a Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school, a license to practice in the State of Missouri, membership in good standing with the Missouri Bar, and demonstrated experience as a practicing attorney in the state of Missouri.
Experience with Third-Class municipalities and knowledge of municipal law, Sunshine Law, and contract law are preferred.
Duties as general municipal counsel include, but are not limited to: (1) possess charge of all litigation in which the City is a party; (2) represent the City in all legal matters and proceedings in which the City is a part or interest, or in which any of its officers are parties in their official capacity: (3) advise the City Administrator, Mayor and City Council or any committee or member thereof as to all legal questions affecting the city’s interest; (4) approve as to form all ordinances, contracts, deeds, bonds and any other documents to be signed in the name of the, or with, the City; (5) advise the City Administrator, Mayor, City Council, Planning and Zoning Commission members, and Board of Adjustment members on zoning variance matters; (6) attended all regular meetings of the City Council, planning and zoning commission, and special City Council meetings as requested; (7) provide official legal opinions upon request from the Mayor or City Administrator.
In addition to the general duties above, the City has several special ongoing projects, including (1) general ordinance review and revision; (2) lease agreements that require negotiation and rewriting; and (3) ordinance enforcement on non-code enforcement matters; (4) on-going code enforcement work, including dangerous building and nuisance abatement.
The City reserves the right to seek outside, specialized counsel, as necessary.
Appointment and Term:
The appointment and term of the City Attorney shall be in accordance with Chapter 2, Division 5- City Attorney and Counselor. Appointment is by approval of the City Council.
Compensation: Compensation shall be negotiated between the City and the attorney/law firm selected through this process. Compensation levels and formulas identified during the negotiation shall be included in the completed agreement document presented to the City Council for consideration and approval. The negotiated fee schedule shall be incorporated into the completed agreement document.
Requested Information:
- Firm or individual name and contract information, including address, e-mail, website (if any) and telephone number.
- Summary of qualifications, specializations, experience, professional affiliations, special training, Missouri Bar license numbers and year of award and institutions of degrees.
- Key firm personnel and those proposed as lead and secondary attorneys who will be assigned to the City.
- Summary of relevant experiences or municipal/governmental services provided, such as general city attorney services, city-related court cases, condemnation, eminent domain, zoning, annexation, code enforcement, litigation, prosecution, past or present municipal clients, etc.
- Potential conflicts of interest which may exist if you serve in this role.
- List of a minimum of three (3) references with contact information.
- Other factors or special considerations which you feel are relevant to your proposal.
Contact Kate Fjell, City Administrator at (660) 882-2332 or
kate.fjell@boonville-mo.org for additional information.
For further details, go to City of Boonville Web Site, Click on
NEWS page.
Interested Parties:
Statements of Interest shall be received
until 5:00PM, April 19, 2024.
City Clerk
City Hall
401 Main Street
Boonville, Missouri 65233
Statements may be delivered by mail, by hand, or by email (PDF) to
amber.davis@boonville-mo.org.