Contracts pending, another $20,000 for hired guns

As the Fraternal Order of Police and International Association of Firefighters Union continue to meet with the city about their overdue contracts, the city's hired lawyers are asking for another $20,000. And the council appears poised to give it to them, based on the fact that no one contested the spending when the council reviewed this week's agenda last Friday.

The city's hired lawyers -- McAnany, VanCleave and Phillips law firm and Frank Ojile -- have already been given $75,000 to be the city's contract "consultant" and oversee the who-gets-what between the city's three biggest unions: the FOP, IAFF and SEIU, which represents maintenance and public works employees.