Hull Selects New Town Counsel After 46 Years

Mead, Talerman & Costa LLC appointed to replace longtime attorney Jim Lampke

HULL, MA - September 18 - Hull's Select Board voted September 18 to appoint Mead, Talerman & Costa LLC as the town's new legal counsel, following the retirement of attorney Jim Lampke after 46 years.

The decision came after interviews with two law firms and extensive discussion by board members about the merits of each proposal.

"I would make a motion to appoint Mead, Talerman and Costa LLC as our new town council," said board member Greg Grey. "With very big shoes to fill."

The motion passed unanimously for a one-year term from the date of execution.

Board members cited the firm's flat fee structure as a key factor in their decision, viewing it as providing more budget predictability for the town.

"To me, the flat fee seems like not too good to be true, but it seems like a really pretty attractive deal for a community," said board member Jerry Taverna. "$14,000 a month might seem like a lot of money, but for full-time counsel on all the things that they are covering for 12 months, it's $168,000 a year."

The board interviewed representatives from Mead, Talerman & Costa and KP Law during the meeting. Both firms were praised for their presentations and municipal law experience.

However, board members expressed a preference for Mead, Talerman & Costa's smaller size and partner-driven approach.

"I liked MTC's size. They had less towns," said Grey. "It seemed more of a family-orientated size company, and I think they would be the better fit for us to respond to our needs."

The new firm will have Brian Winner as lead counsel with Kate Feodoroff as secondary. This dual-partner approach was seen favorably compared to KP Law's proposal of one primary attorney.

Concerns were raised about potential scheduling conflicts for Hull's multi-night town meetings, which typically occur in early May. The new firm committed to attending town meetings for at least the first two years.

Throughout the discussion, board members expressed deep appreciation for Lampke's decades of service to the town.

"We got more than we'll ever get from any town council," said Grey. "The man's still here."

Town Manager Jennifer Constable noted that Lampke will assist with the transition, particularly for ongoing cases.

The appointment is for one year, allowing the board to reassess the relationship next fall.