Johnstown approves town attorney agreement with Williams' developer-reimbursement rate at $325 an hour
The agreement bars increases to the firm's legal-services rates for at least two years. Development-application work will be billed separately and may be passed on to applicants under town code or policy.
The Johnstown Town Council approved an agreement setting Town Attorney Nina P. Williams' rate at $325 an hour for developer-reimbursement work.
The agreement identifies the Town of Johnstown as the client and Wilson Williams LLP, doing business as Wilson Williams Fellman Dittman, as the law firm. The agreement lists September 21, 2026, as both its execution date and effective date. It recites that the council appointed Williams of Wilson Williams LLP as town attorney at its September 21 meeting under Article 9 of the town charter and Section 2-46 of the municipal code. The law firm will provide services requested by the mayor, council, manager and boards or employees they authorize, including meeting attendance, legal advice, work on ordinances, resolutions and contracts, governmental negotiations, litigation and other duties prescribed by the mayor, council or manager.
The agreement bars the law firm from raising its hourly legal-services rates for at least two years from the effective date. Legal work associated with development applications must be invoiced separately and may be forwarded to developer applicants under the town code or town policies.
“You went through a thorough RFP process, and the council at the last regularly scheduled meeting directed staff to provide a contract agreement for engagement services with Nina Williams and her firm, which is Wilson Williams Dittman and Feldman,” a staff member said. Staff recommended approval of the agreement as presented.
The agreement has an indefinite term, and the town may terminate it at any time, in which case it must pay fees and costs incurred through the termination date. The law firm may terminate after reasonable advance written notice, subject to professional-conduct and court rules, and the town must pay fees and costs through the termination date. Invoices are due upon receipt; amounts unpaid after 60 days are subject to a 1.5% monthly late charge (18% per year), and payments go first to the oldest outstanding amounts. If the town does not pay charges within 90 days of the bill date, the law firm may elect to stop all work for the town.