CLEARFIELD – The legal battle between Clearfield Borough and Mayor Patty Gilliland reaches $8,212 in legal fees, in addition to bringing questions of a counter claim to recover costs.
This month’s invoice from Borough Solicitor Kim Kesner included an additional $850 to the legal battle. This raised the year to date expenditures to $5,712 accounted for by the borough so far. On Gilliland’s end, she has $2,500 that has yet to be charged to the borough which rounds off the $8,212.
“Shouldn’t we file a counter claim to get some of our money back if she does lose her case?” asked Council Member Fred Wisor.
As it currently stands, the borough is responsible for the court costs of both sides.
“The council and the press have been making a deal about how much I am costing this borough,” said Gilliland. “You forget how many millions I brought into this community.”
Gilliland said in her defense that when she was elected, she had worked with the solicitor on doing everything by the book. Both had gone over the borough’s laws regarding the powers of her office.
When the elections changed the council around, Gilliland said the solicitor seemed turned against her. Either he was misleading her early in her administration, or the solicitor has begun misleading her later on. However, she was still following the written rules.
“I ask who is costing us this money? Is it me or a council that doesn’t follow the letter of the law?” said Gilliland.