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Darien to talk about lawyer

JANESVILLE — The Darien Village Board tonight could decide how it will select a new village attorney.

It’s a job that’s been in the spotlight of late as the village has been mired in a variety of legal issues including possible negotiations with Police Chief Steve DeVoy, who was suspended and fired but continues to be paid.

The village already has spent more for attorney fees in 2009 than it did in 2008. The fees are four times what they were in 2003.

Administrator Marc Dennison tonight will recommend the board send letters seeking requests for proposals from local law offices. Dennison has created a sample letter that asks seven questions of potential law firms.

The board could add to the letter or choose to give him different direction, Dennison said.

Elkhorn attorney David Danz in July resigned as the village’s attorney. He had told President Evelyn Etten in June that he would resign.

Danz wants to spend more time with his family and on his private practice, he said in his letter of resignation.

Danz has been an attorney since 1979 and has worked for the village since 1990.

Through July, the village has paid Danz $40,700 in legal fees, according to village data. The village has paid $19,900 to Hazelbaker and Associates, a Madison firm that has been investigating DeVoy.

Danz has also worked on that investigation in addition to his normal responsibilities for the village.

DeVoy was suspended in December after an employee found hidden surveillance cameras in the department. The village started investigating whether DeVoy had the authority to have the cameras installed.

That investigation turned up thousands of documents that indicate DeVoy was spending a large amount of time violating the village’s computer policy and having a sexual relationship with a subordinate, investigators have said.

The village has spent a total of $71,751 in legal fees through July of this year, according to village data. That includes payments for municipal court services as well as payments to Danz and Hazelbaker.

The village spent $60,800 in 2008 and between $48,000 and $58,000 the previous four years.

The village spent $19,600 in attorneys fees in 2003, according to village data.

Danz has been criticized by some board members and members of the public for his fees.

“This was supposed to be a $1,500 to $2,500 a month gig,” Danz said. “You get to the point where you are defending yourself.”