Council funds law department one more month
City Council · Meeting of September 29, 2026
Medford council extends law department funding one month amid a $5.7 million legal spending fight. Council President Bears said records show $5,717,283 in outside counsel, settlements and judgments since 2020, including nearly $2.4 million to KP Law, while Councillor Michael Singh cited a "573 percent increase in unfair labor practice charges" and $487,943 in retainer lines he called unauditable. Mayor Brianna Longo Kern has said she won't post a city solicitor job unless the council restores full funding; the council instead voted 7-0 to fund $42,507.63 for one month and demand a written answer by October 13.
Councilors also approved $1.3 million for 23 road-paving projects, $1 million to replace Hormel Stadium's 12-year-old turf, and $40,000 to restore Medford Connects outreach hours after a lost state grant, plus a resolution backing roughly 1,400 striking Unite Here and Teamsters workers at Encore Boston Harbor.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 4,320 words
Source: the City Council meeting of September 29, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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