Milton Town Counsel abruptly cuts ties with town

Jim Sessler (Courtesy photo/Sessler Law website)

MILTON - Milton is looking for a new attorney today after the lawyer who represented the town left its employ on Monday, the Town Administrator confirmed today.

Town Administrator Heather Thibodeau said she couldn't characterize the circumstances under which Jim Sessler of Sessler Law Offices of Franklin terminated his relationship with the town because it occurred in a nonpublic session after Monday's regularly scheduled selectmen's meeting.

During the meeting, however, Selectmen Andy Rawson and Mike Beaulieu approved a motion to arrange a settlement with the owners of the property at Three Ponds Automotive over a rock wall behind the business, which Selectman Ryan Thibeault strongly disagreed with.

Thibeault, an abutter to Three Ponds Automotive, had wanted to pursue a course that would've forced the business to hire an engineer to document the stability of the wall, while Rawson and Beaulieu on Monday called for an arrangement that would allow the business to keep the wall as is with no engineering report mandate if they held harmless the town from any liability associated with the 20-foot wall.

That infuriated Thibeault who promised he would be getting back in touch with Sessler regarding his next move.

Rawson, who advanced the motion, said during the public portion of the meeting that he, himself, had talked to Sessler and said he had advised the town to come to an agreement with the business rather than proceed in a more aggressive fashion.

Thibodeau said she was surprised Sessler had ended his relationship with the town, but said she was already looking to find another lawyer to act as town attorney.

In the meantime, she said the town would rely on the New Hampshire Municipal Association for legal advice.