'Despicable.' Taunton City Council OKs budget after heated lawyer fight
After a heated debate, Taunton city councilors voted 7-1 to approve the supplemental budget they rejected two weeks ago, without any changes and without a budget line item specifically for an attorney for the City Council. Previously, the Council voted 5-4 to reject the supplemental budget because it did not contain funding for an attorney specifically for the City Council . The supplemental budget contains funding for firefighters, funds the pension of a city employee serving in the military, and also adds $481,000 to the city's reserve account where it can be used in the event of an economic downturn or other financial challenge. At the most recent Tuesday, Nov. 10, council meeting, Chief Financial Officer Patrick Dello Russo said that hypothetically, money was available for the council to hire their own attorney. But he said that he would not make the money available until the Council came to an agreement with City Solicitor Matt Costa about the role of such an attorney. Costa, for his part, said that he had "legal concerns" but that he was "open to having the discussion." Ultimately, City Councilor Debra Botellio said that "we need to pass this for the sake of the people
