Board of Estimate and Contract:
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE
CORPORATION COUNSEL TO RETAIN
VALISSA BUNTING, ESQ. AS CONSULTANT
FOR PARKING AND TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 153 of the Charter of the City of Mount Vernon, the Board of Estimate is authorized to consider and approve matters concerning the retention of professional services on behalf of the City; and
WHEREAS, in the fall of 2025, the Unified Court System notified the City of Mount Vernon Law Department that the City is required to provide legal representatives to prosecute parking tickets and moving violations; and
WHEREAS, the three attorneys presently assigned to the Law Department have assumed responsibility for prosecuting parking and traffic violations in addition to their existing legal responsibilities; and
WHEREAS, the daily volume of parking and traffic court appearances has substantially impacted the attorneys' ability to manage the Law Department's core legal caseload, including matters involving personal injury, labor, employment, contracts, and other legal matters; and
WHEREAS, the diversion of the Law Department's attorneys to parking and traffic court proceedings has resulted in an increased amount of legal work being referred to outside counsel, thereby increasing the City's outside counsel expenditures; and
WHEREAS, in an effort to address these concerns and ensure that the City continues to satisfy its obligation to provide legal representation in parking and traffic matters, the Law Department issued a Request for Proposals seeking a qualified consulting attorney to handle parking and traffic court appearances on behalf of the City; and
WHEREAS, Valissa Bunting, Esq. submitted a proposal in response to the Request for Proposals, was interviewed by the Law Department, and observed traffic court proceedings as part of the evaluation process; and
WHEREAS, based upon Ms. Bunting's qualifications, experience, proposa...
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