EAST ST. LOUIS – City council members have hired former chief circuit judge John Baricevic, son Charles J. Baricevic, and Grey Chatham Sr., as corporation counsel.
The city council agreed to pay their firm an annual retainer of $148,200, plus $200 an hour for hearings and $150 an hour for extraordinary services.
The council terminated its contract with the firm of State Sen. James Clayborne, effective Nov. 14. Clayborne, who has served in the state Senate since 1995, announced in September that he would not seek re-election next year.
A new contract states that the city operates under strict budgetary guidelines limiting the compensation that the city can pay. The contract states that Baricevic, Baricevic, and Chatham agreed to use their best efforts to stay within the guidelines.
It will continue by extension until either party cancels it.
The contract further states that Baricevic, Baricevic, and Chatham have decades of experience representing local governments and businesses in litigation.
Extraordinary services will include representation in any civil or criminal litigation involving the city, whether or not insurance against the claim is available, as well as government activity in Springfield, Chicago, Washington or other locations.
Extraordinary services also will include labor negotiations.
The city will pay $50 an hour for extraordinary services by paralegals.
Voters in the 20th Judicial Circuit defeated John Baricevic last year.
He had resigned in order to run for election at 50 percent rather than stand for retention at 60 percent, and the tactic failed.