Looking to lawyer up even more: City of Rochester seeking a third staff attorney

Spread sheet from Rochester budget document shows annual salary and benefit costs for City of Rochester's legal department; inset Rochester City Attorney Terence O'Rourke (Courtesy/City of Rochester)

ROCHESTER - Most folks who follow Rochester news know that the city has a full-time attorney on its payroll, but they may not know that the city also employs a second full-time attorney, and now is looking to hire another.
The two attorneys currently employed earn a combined salary of about $225,00; the new hire is budgeted to

make close to $100,000.

The second attorney, whose title is deputy city attorney, performs highly responsible professional, administrative and supervisory work in planning, organizing and directing the activities of the Prosecutors office of the Rochester Legal Department, in the preparation and presentation of criminal and civil ordinance violation cases in District Court, according to City of Rochester documentation. They also assist the city attorney in providing legal services to the City Council, the Council's various standing and Ad hoc committees, boards and commissions of the City, the City Manager and department heads.
The legal department staff additionally includes a paralegal, two legal assistants and a victim witness advocate at an additional combined $247,000, putting the line item for just salaries at more than $585,000.
The overall salary line for the legal department for fiscal year 2025 is up around 10 percent over last year and up more than 40 percent over what it was in fiscal year 2023.
In addition, the legal staff's benefits budget at $240,000 is also up more than 40 percent since 2023.
The total budget for the legal department is $916,000, up more than 40 percent from just two years ago.
The Rochester Voice requested an interview with Rochester City Manager Katie Ambrose to discuss why there was a need for a third city attorney. She declined.
Meanwhile, former Rochester mayoral candidate and downtown business owner Susan Rice said she has been fighting for more transparency from the legal department for more than six months.
"I brought it up several months ago that the legal department should be providing a monthly status report like other city departments do," she said today. "There's no accountability or transparency."

It should be noted that even with two full-time attorneys, the city still contracts out much of its legal work to private firms.
Former city councilor Steve Beaudoin, who often sparred with city officials over their tax and spend policies and penchant for growing government, said it would be much more efficient if the city just contracted out all its legal work.
"You can't tell me that with almost a million-dollar annual budget, they couldn't farm that out for less money," he said today. "You could have a team of lawyers who represent the city far better in specific areas whether it be real estate law or municipal law or whatever. Instead, we have people that don't know any specific areas of law."
Beaudoin said the specter of a third lawyer is unsettling to say the least.
"You watch, the legal department is part of weaponizing the city against the people of Rochester," he said.
The Rochester Voice contacted Somersworth and Dover regarding how they conduct their legal business. Somersworth said they contract out all their legal work. Dover's legal deparmtent comprises two full-time attorneys and one legal assistant.