Attorney deal bad business

On Jan. 26, the Corning City Council voted 3-2 to approve a generous agreement with the city's part-time city attorney.

The agreement will give Michael Fitzpatrick an annual salary in 2010 of $73,320, automatically increasing to $79,596 in 2011. A new clause was also added granting the attorney 60 days termination pay in the event the agreement is ever canceled.

In addition to being the part-time attorney for Corning, Fitzpatrick is also the city attorney for Anderson and Orland - and his Web site shows that he also represents seven other public agencies and two corporate clients, in addition to representing individual clients. Fitzpatrick is a sole practitioner with only two clerical employees. How many taxpayers and voters - assuming they are lucky enough to even have a job in this economy - make over $70,000 annually from working a part-time job?

Mayor Strack defends the agreement by saying that Fitzpatrick absorbed $20,000 worth of litigation hours in 2009 as part of his salary. At best this is fuzzy math and a ridiculous argument. Deducting $20,000 from $73,320 means that Fitzpatrick still pocketed $53,320 of taxpayers' money in 2009.

Concerned Citizens suggested that the council consider hiring a local Tehama County attorney, on a small monthly retainer to handle routine legal matters with a fee agreement for additional work. We felt that this kind of arrangement would be more advantageous and cost effective. However, as is common practice in Corning, the 3-2 majority did what they wanted to do in spite of what might ultimately be in the best interests of the taxpayers and voters of Corning.

Dean Cofer

Concerned Citizens

Corning