By Darrell Halen
Staff Writer

Hoping to get the best legal and auditing services they can at the lowest price, Windham officials have put the work out to bid.

Four law firms are interested in representing the town: Beaumont and Campbell of Salem, Boutin and Altieri of Londonderry, Shaines and McEachern of Portsmouth and the Salem firm of Soule, Leslie, Kidder, Sayward and Loughman.

Town Administrator David Sullivan said bids were solicited from approximately 15 law firms.

“Several (selectmen) felt we should see what firms are out there,” Sullivan said.

The four firms submitted technical proposals. Firms that meet the town’s criteria will be interviewed and then cost proposals will be opened. Selectmen will receive a recommendation on which firm should be hired.

One of the bidders is Salem lawyer Bernard Campbell, who currently serves as Windham’s general counsel. He represents the town approximately 95 percent of the time, Sullivan said.

The town uses different legal counsel if the matter is a union issue or if Campbell has a conflict.

The town spends roughly $45,000 on legal work, exclusive of work related to union matters, Sullivan said.

Campbell’s fee ranges from roughly $122 to $150 an hour, depending on whether he is working in court. He has been representing the town for more than 20 years.

The town has been using the auditing firm of Vachon Clukay & Co. of Manchester since 1982.

Three companies have expressed interest in serving as the town’s auditor. In addition to the Vachon firm, James George of Boston and Melanson Heath in Nashua have submitted proposals.

The town will make a threeyear commitment to use the services of the firms it selects, with the option to continue using the company for an additional one or three years, Sullivan said.