Easton Selectmen Review Town Attorney Resignation During Special Meeting

EASTON, CT — Easton officials on Dec. 9 publicly discussed the resignation of the town’s longtime legal counsel, examined rising legal costs and outlined plans to secure new representation during a special meeting of the Board of Selectmen that included extended public comment.

First Selectman Dan Lent opened the meeting by confirming that Berchem Moses PC, the law firm that has represented Easton for decades, had submitted a letter of resignation dated Dec. 4. Lent said the firm, which began formally serving as town attorney earlier this year under a monthly retainer, cited incompatibility with the new administration’s goals.

Background On Legal Retainer And Costs

Lent explained that the firm was retained in mid-2025 under a $4,000-per-month agreement, which included general legal guidance, training and discounted hourly rates for additional matters such as land-use litigation and labor issues. He said the arrangement was intended as an experiment and had not proven financially sustainable.

According to Lent, the town exceeded its legal budget by roughly $50,000 last fiscal year and had already spent approximately $66,000 early in the current budget cycle, raising fiduciary concerns. He said the resignation would require the town to reevaluate how it secures legal services going forward.
Lent emphasized that Berchem Moses remains counsel of record through a 60-day transition period, allowing time for the town to retain new attorneys for pending litigation, particularly in land-use matters.

Differing Views From Selectmen

Selectman Nick D’Addario said the firm had worked for Easton for approximately 27 years under multiple administrations and described the resignation as sudden and unusual. She urged that the resignation letter be made public to provide transparency and said the firm’s departure was not necessarily tied solely to billing issues.

Lent responded that financial pressures and frustrations related to the retainer model were discussed with the firm and contributed to its decision, though not explicitly stated in the resignation letter.

Public Comment Raises Transparency Concerns

Several residents spoke during public comment, questioning the circumstances surrounding the firm’s departure and calling for the full resignation letter to be released. One resident said the situation felt rushed and expressed concern about losing a firm with deep institutional knowledge of the town. Others asked about the impact on zoning and land-use boards that rely on legal counsel for hearings.

Lent said the board’s intent was to inform residents promptly and manage the transition responsibly while protecting the town’s legal interests.

Next Steps

The Board of Selectmen did not take formal action during the meeting but indicated it would review candidates for outside counsel and continue discussions as part of upcoming budget and policy meetings. Lent said residents should expect further updates as the town moves forward with new legal representation.

The meeting adjourned later in the evening following additional questions and comments from the public.