Published: April 20, 2009 01:52 am      

SOMERSET: Town names new law firm

SOMERSET — Arthur Herdzik, who has served as the village attorney for Lancaster for 20 years and has worked in the town of Cheektowaga, has been named the Somerset town attorney.

The firm of Chelus, Herdzig, Speyer, and Monte PC of Buffalo has replaced Andrews, Pusateri, Brandt, Roberson, Brandt to provide legal services to the town. The Lockport firm has represented the town about 60 years. Edwin Shoemaker, who took a leave of absence from the Lockport firm in 2008, was the Somerset town attorney for about three decades.

The appointment was made official Tuesday by a vote of 3-to-1 at a town board meeting which was attended by about 65 residents. Voting in the majority were Supervisor Richard Meyers, Councilmen Daniel Engert, and Randall Wayner. 

Councilman Dudley Chaffee was the lone vote against the Herdzik firm. Councilperson April Gow was unable to attend the meeting due to illness. Dudley focused on past performance and experience of the Lockport firm.

John Phillips will be partnering with Herdzig for the Buffalo firm in Somerset.

According to Engert, the decision was based upon an evaluation and comparison of their professional rating, the cost of service, relevant municipal law experience, the firm's complete response to the request for proposal, and the law firm’s future stability of service.

“I am convinced that this decision is the correct one and will provide for the most advantageous situation for the town,” Engert stated. “While the former firm certainly had relevant experience as a result of their tenure as counsel for the town, I am absolutely convinced that the Chelus firm is better equipped with the necessary resources to effectively represent out Town at the present time and in the future.”

Herdzik was named to the New York Super Lawyers 2008 — Upstate Edition and the New York Upstate Buffalo Spree Super Lawyers in 2007

Six law firms responded to the response for proposal.

Wayner said he canvassed the Town's various board chairmen and department heads to make sure that there were no overriding issues that would preclude making a change. He also checked with Barker Central School

“This is not an indictment of the past as none is necessary, or warranted,” Wayner said. “Rather, this is all about the future and who is best equipped to serve this town."

A Buffalo native, Herdzik is a 1975 graduate of the University at Buffalo Law School. He was admitted to the bar in 1976.

Herdzik was the chairman of the Erie County Negligence Committee from 1990-1993. He belongs to the New York State Insurance, Negligence and Compensation Section and a member of American Bar Associations; Western New York Trial Lawyers Association and the Defense Research Institute.

n The board passed a strengthened dog control law and approved the wording of a proposed lease agreement that will be offered to the Somerset Youth Baseball Organization. This will pave the way for the construction and operation of batting cages.