Council Votes to Give Rate Increase to Labor Attorney; Refers Charter Committee’s Recommendations to Attorney

The East Lansing City Council will retain the same individual working as its primary labor attorney going forward, but under the employment of a new firm and at roughly double the rate. 

Gouri Sashital has represented the city as a labor attorney since at least 2014 under the employment of Keller Thoma, P.C. However, Sashital recently left Keller Thoma, along with the two other attorneys in its labor department. Sashital is now employed by Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, PLLC. 

At the Sept. 9 City Council meeting, council voted to hire Ogletree for labor attorney services through June 30, 2026. The vote was four in favor and one against, with Councilmember Dana Watson against. 

The vote came despite a drastic rate increase. In June, the city began a new contract with Keller Thoma that would have charged $190 hourly the first year, $200 hourly the second year and $210 hourly the third year for Sashital’s work. Under the new contract, the hourly rate is $400. 

In the agenda packet, it explains that if Sashital’s rate had been $400 the previous three years, the city would have spent close to $130,000 more on its labor attorney. 

According to the agenda packet, the city could reconsider an offer from Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton for $165 per hour, or solicit proposals from different firms. Giarmarco provided general legal services for the city until it switched firms earlier this year. 

When council voted to hire a new city attorney for general services at a higher rate, some council members in favor said the new firm’s experience will help attorneys work faster, therefore reducing the number of hours the city must pay for. Councilmember Erik Altmann made the same argument when explaining his vote in favor of Sashital’s firm.

“Sometimes our hourly rates go up, that doesn’t mean we end up paying more,” he said. 

Additionally, council members in favor said they value the continuity of keeping Sashital, and that mistakes from a labor attorney can be costly. 

“I weigh very heavily the continuity of having our current labor counsel continue,” Altmann said. “I also consider cost more broadly, which I think we have a responsibility to do. The cost of a labor negotiation going south can be very high, especially if it ends up in arbitration. And so, the potential risks dwarf, in my mind, the relatively small, in total cost, increase related to hourly rates.”

Watson said she does not understand paying the higher rate when the city is making cuts elsewhere. She also asked why the new contract does not propose the same rates that were agreed upon just months ago.

“It’s so hard for me to agree to paying even more money when we’re asking our citizens to vote on a millage,” she said. “We just, again, had [Department of Public Works Director] Ron Lacasse present, and he talked about the lowest bidder. He didn’t talk about the highest bidder and going for that.”

Watson continued to say that she thinks the city should take new proposals for labor attorney services. Altmann and Councilmember Mark Meadows each said it makes sense to take proposals from labor attorneys to compete for the next contract. 

Watson added that Sashital negotiated the new contract with a police union that weakens the city’s police oversight commission. 

“Our community has talked to us about the independent police oversight commission, our current labor attorney is deeply tied into that,” Watson said. “I’m looking for a reset.”

Recommendations from Charter Review Committee passed on to city attorney. 

The Charter Review Committee assembled by council last year passed 28 resolutions related to charter changes and the addition of a preamble to the city charter. The recommendations are wide reaching – from adding a section on transparency to requiring future city managers live in or near East Lansing and much more. 

Each recommendation from the committee will need to be approved by council in order to be placed on a ballot for voters to decide on. Depending on how many charter amendments are passed on to residents, the votes could be held across multiple elections. When the city last had a committee review its charter in the 1990s, there were dozens of charter amendments voted on across two elections. Each of these amendments was approved by voters.

Altmann said he would like the city attorney to provide recommendations on if each potential change is legally “advisable,” “neutral“ or “inadvisable.”

Watson said she would like to hear a presentation about the committee’s recommendations. Councilmember Mark Meadows suggested Charter Review Committee Chair Diane Goddeeris speak to council at a discussion-only meeting. 

Importantly, it will be the next City Council that decides whether or not to pass the recommendations on to residents. Watson and Mayor George Brookover are not running for reelection and will vacate their seats after November’s election. 

“It ain’t going to happen before you and I leave,”  Brookover said to Watson. 

Police accountability, violence downtown discussed during public comment. 

The Sept. 9 meeting featured several speakers raising concerns about police bias and accountability. There were also business owners who spoke in support of ELPD’s handling of violent incidents downtown that have become more frequent since the Covid-19 pandemic. 

ELi will soon bring a separate report covering this part of the meeting.