tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481330.post4577664837332031028..comments2023-10-24T11:05:25.288-04:00Comments on Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates ponder current events: Lamar bears its head again around the council table and Kraus spoke too soon, as usual.Mark Rauterkushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17157914569686528007noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481330.post-90555390620944768522008-05-07T22:27:00.000-04:002008-05-07T22:27:00.000-04:00Council votes to pay legal bills for billboard app...Council votes to pay legal bills for billboard appeal<BR/>Wednesday, May 07, 2008<BR/>By Rich Lord, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette<BR/><BR/>An effort by some Pittsburgh Council members to have the city pay $11,000 for their legal battle with Lamar Advertising passed tentatively today by a 5-2 margin, after a long, bitter debate.<BR/><BR/>The legislation would have allowed council to as much as spend $40,000 -- down from $80,000 in the initial draft -- on its own attorney. But it was prompted by the need to pay a single legal bill stemming from a permit granted to Lamar in December to place a 1,200-square-foot electronic billboard on the front of the Grant Street Transportation Center, and eventually amended just to cover that $11,000 expense.<BR/><BR/>Councilman Patrick Dowd appealed the matter to the Zoning Board of Adjustment, acting as a private citizen and paying legal bills from his own pocket. Council President Shields, and colleagues William Peduto, Bruce Kraus and Ricky Burgess filed similar appeals in their official capacities, with attorney Hugh McGough representing them without a council vote to hire him.<BR/><BR/>The zoning appeals were settled by Mr. Dowd in a deal that compels Lamar to submit a new permit application that will go before the Zoning Board and the City Planning Commission.<BR/><BR/>Mr. Dowd said the original bill would create "a little legal slush fund." Paying Mr. McGough's bill, even though his hiring was never approved by council, would create a bad precedent, inviting "the administration to come to us on a weekly basis, having acted, and then asking us for after-the-fact appropriations."<BR/><BR/>He abstained on the vote.<BR/><BR/>Mr. Shields said the four council members incurred a $10,500 legal bill, and noted that members are paid $56,405. "There were five members that felt strong enough to go to court," he said. "Mr. Dowd chose to do it as an individual and pay for it out of his own pocket. I'm not going to do that."<BR/><BR/>"You went out and got an attorney and spent the money," Mr. Motznik told the four members who hired Mr. McGough. "This is highly unusual, and the normal process would be that we would talk about this before an attorney is hired."<BR/><BR/>He joined Councilman Dan Deasy in voting no.<BR/><BR/>"I was sued for $2 million," Mr. Peduto said, referring to a suit filed by Lamar that the company has since promised to withdraw. "And you're telling me I shouldn't hire a lawyer?"<BR/><BR/>The city has a Law Department that can have as many as 16 attorneys. Council typically relies on their expertise, but historically it has occasionally hired an outside lawyer when it has disagreed with the administration.<BR/><BR/>A final vote is set for Tuesday. Councilwoman Tonya Payne was not present for the vote.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com