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Legal Counsel and Special Prosecutor Services

2025last touched · 14 source resolutions
↑Village/Rules/Policies/Adopted/legal_counsel_services
Governs the engagement, appointment, and renewal of the village attorney and other legal counsel including labor counsel, bond counsel, and special prosecutors for village court matters.
Synthesis written as-of 2026-05-03. A time-bounded clause in this rule expires on 2026-12-31
In force, by year of last update
2025
Village Attorney — Current Appointment
The law firm of VanDeWater & VanDeWater LLP, with Kyle Barnett (Partner), serves as attorney to the Village of Red Hook, effective January 1, 2025. The Mayor is authorized to sign the 2026 engagement agreement, with the current term running through December 31, 2026.[12][14]
Village Attorney — 2026 Engagement Agreement
The Mayor is authorized to sign the VanDeWater & VanDeWater 2026 engagement agreement, extending the firm's service as Village Attorney through December 31, 2026.[14]
Special Counsel — Planning Board and Land Use
The Mayor is authorized to sign the 2025 engagement letter with Rodenhausen Chale & Polidoro to serve as special counsel to the Planning Board and for general land use related legal advice.[13]
2024
Labor and Employment Counsel — Youngwirth Law
Youngwirth Law (Brooke Youngwirth) serves as labor and employment counsel for the Village of Red Hook at rates consistent with the prior agreement with Mackey, Butts & Whalen. The firm has provided these services since July 1, 2023.[8][9]
2022
Labor Counsel — Attorney Hourly Rate
The hourly rate for attorney services under the labor and employment counsel engagement is $190.00.[6]
Labor Counsel — Paralegal Hourly Rate
The hourly rate for paralegal services under the labor and employment counsel engagement is $110.00.[6]
2021
Special Prosecutor — Appointment
Christopher Montalto, Esq. is appointed as Special Prosecutor for Village Code violations, subject to authorization from the District Attorney of Dutchess County, for a cost not to exceed $1,000.00.[4][5]
2011
Bond Counsel — USDA-RD Water Improvement Project
The law firm of Hawkins, Delafield & Wood is selected to act as bond counsel for the Village of Red Hook for the USDA-RD water improvement grant bonding process. The USDA-RD preliminary funding approval is in the amount of $1.27 million at an interest rate of 2.25% for 38 years.[3]
History · superseded or expired
2024
Labor Counsel — Youngwirth Law 2024 Engagement Letter
The Mayor was authorized to sign the letter of engagement with Youngwirth Law for labor and employment legal services for 2024, as amended to remove reference to the Town of Red Hook. Expired December 31, 2024.[9]
Village Attorney — Mackey Butts & Whalen / Richard Olson Appointment
The law firm of Mackey Butts & Whalen, LLP, with Richard J. Olson of counsel, was appointed as attorney to the Village of Red Hook through December 31, 2024. Superseded by the appointment of VanDeWater & VanDeWater LLP effective January 1, 2025.[10]
Special Prosecutor — Term Ending April 7, 2025
The Board approved the Mayor's appointment of Christopher Montalto, Esq. as Special Prosecutor for a term ending April 7, 2025. This term has expired.[11]
2023
Labor Counsel — Mackey Butts & Whalen LLP Engagement Letter
The Mayor was authorized to sign the letter of engagement with Mackey Butts & Whalen LLP in April 2023. Superseded by the engagement of Youngwirth Law effective July 1, 2023.[7]
Labor Counsel — Youngwirth Law Fiscal Year 2023 Engagement
The Mayor was authorized to engage Youngwirth Law for labor and employment legal services for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, at rates consistent with the prior Mackey, Butts & Whalen agreement. Expired December 31, 2023.[8]
2022
Labor Counsel — Mackey, Butts & Wise Engagement
The letter of engagement with Mackey, Butts & Wise for labor and employment legal counsel was renewed in January 2022 at hourly rates of $190.00 for attorneys and $110.00 for paralegals. Superseded by the engagement of Youngwirth Law as of July 1, 2023.[6]
2008
Village Attorney — Kelly Floor-Myers Appointment
Kelly Floor-Myers was appointed as Village Attorney to fill Jeff Martin's term, which ended on April 1, 2009. Superseded by subsequent appointments.[1]
Building Project Legal Negotiations Authorization
Attorney Kelly Flood-Myers was authorized to proceed with negotiations on building project legal matters in hopes of resolving the dispute out of court. This authorization was specific to the 2008 building project dispute.[2]
Source resolutions
  1. [1]2008-07-07Village Attorney Appointment
  2. [2]2008-08-04Authorization for building project legal negotiations
  3. [3]2011-11-17Bond Council
  4. [4]2015-06-08Special Prosecutor Appointment
  5. [5]2021-08-31RESOLUTION #17-2021
  6. [6]2022-01-10Legal Counsel Services Agreement Renewal
  7. [7]2023-04-10Engagement letter with Mackey Butts & Whalen LLP
  8. [8]2023-06-22RESOLUTION TO ENGAGE YOUNGWIRTH LAW AS LABOR & EMPLOYMENT COUNSEL
  9. [9]2024-02-22Youngwirth Law engagement letter for labor and employment services
  10. [10]2024-07-15RESOLUTION TO APPOINT MACKEY BUTTS & WHALEN, LLP, RICHARD OLSON AS VILLAGE ATTORNEY
  11. [11]2024-11-21RESOLUTION TO CONFIRM SPECIAL PROSECUTOR APPOINTMENT
  12. [12]2024-12-09Resolution to Appoint VanDeWater & VanDeWater, Kyle Barnett as Village Attorney
  13. [13]2025-03-10Authorize engagement of Rodenhausen Chale & Polidoro as special counsel
  14. [14]2025-10-27VanDeWater & VanDeWater 2026 engagement agreement

Synthesized from the chronological history of these resolutions. Each clause shows the year it was last established or amended. The text is a reading aid — for legal force, consult the source resolutions and the Village Code.