Elmhurst City Attorney Gets Pay Raise

ELMHURST, IL — The Elmhurst City Council on Tuesday decided to increase the hourly rate for the city attorney, saying the new rate reflects what other towns are paying. The city will now pay its law firm, Rosemont-based Storino, Ramello & Durkin, $195 an hour, up from $175 currently.

In May 2009, the city hired the law firm for legal representation, and it has received $175 an hour ever since, according to a memo from the City Council's finance committee. City staff surveyed 24 towns in DuPage County. Four did not respond, while another three have in-house lawyers. Of the 17 remaining, they pay a median hourly rate of $200 an hour for corporate work, which is what Storino, Ramello & Durkin provides the city, the memo said. The firm's senior partner, Donald Storino, serves as the city attorney.

"The committee has determined that the level and quality of service that SRD furnishes the city is excellent," the committee said.

A rate increase was not considered during the recent annual budget process, but city staff projects the budget has enough money to cover it, the memo said.

The City Council unanimously approved the rate increase, which was packaged with other uncontroversial items on the council's agenda.