Huron swears in new law director

HURON — The city of Huron swore in its third law director within a year following Aimee Lane's departure from the firm that's contracted for the city's legal needs.After longtime law director Laura Alkire left in December 2018, the city hired Walter | Haverfield, a Cleveland-based law firm, to replace her and manage all of its legal needs.Huron's city charter requires an individual to be sworn into the position of law director, so the contract named Lane, a partner at the firm, to fill the role.But Lane recently left Walter | Haverfield to pursue new opportunities and could no longer serve as the city's law director. At Tuesday's city council meeting, Benjamin Chojnacki, an associate at Walter | Haverfield, took the oath of office to replace her.He is a graduate of the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and has experience in municipal, civil and criminal law. He serves as the law director of Cuyahoga Heights and the village solicitor for Lakemore.Before he gave Chojnacki the oath of office, Mayor Trey Hardy said this wouldn't change the contract the city agreed to with Walter | Haverfield.The law firm is contracted to provide up to 50 hours of legal services per month for 2019 through 2021 at a cost of about $318,000, which is comparable to what Alkire would've been paid if she stayed.If the city exceeds the monthly mark, it would be charged an additional amount, which would vary depending on the services provided.Reach reporter Michael Harrington at michaelharrington@sanduskyregister.com, follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegisterBen Chojnacki