• The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville has decided to eliminate its in-house solicitor position and transition to outsourced legal counsel services.
  • Town Staff identified the move as a cost-saving measure expected to save more than $200,000 annually.
  • Two senior law clerks will be retained to handle administrative legal tasks, while a roster of external law firms will address the Town’s diverse legal needs.
  • Delegated authorities previously managed by the solicitor have been transferred to Chief Administrative Officer Sunny Bains.
  • Councillor Maurice Smith described the decision as a difficult but necessary step, highlighting its importance for the Town’s operational efficiency and financial well-being.

 

The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville has not only parted ways with its solicitor, Joshua Silver, but is also bidding farewell to the role entirely.

Following the approval of the Town’s 2025 operating budget, Stouffville was set to maintain three full-time legal positions. However, according to a December Staff report, that direction soon changed.

“During the budget process, Town Staff consistently seek out opportunities to improve processes, enhance efficiencies, and identify cost-saving initiatives to drive continuous improvement and organizational success,” the report states. “As part of budget reviews undertaken this year, the decision was made to outsource all legal counsel activities.”

Municipal solicitors serve as top-level legal advisors on a wide range of issues, including land-use planning, regulatory compliance, and local by-laws. Their role demands expertise across numerous legal fields, and when specialized knowledge or additional capacity is required, external legal counsel is brought in to address those needs.

While the Town intends to retain two senior law clerks who worked under Silver, the solicitor’s role will now be fully outsourced.

“A roster of law firms and external counsel are utilized based on factors such as costs, availability, specialization, and expertise,” Town Spokesperson Glenn Jackson explained to Bullet Point News. “This practice was in place prior to fully outsourcing counsel activities.”

The shift from an in-house solicitor to on-demand legal services creates a variable-cost model, Jackson said. The Town expects future annual savings of more than $200,000 as a result. These estimates were generated through an audit conducted alongside York Region and assessments of historical legal spending.

“We feel we do not have the scale of legal work to warrant a feasible in-house structure,” the Town added. “By outsourcing the solicitor function completely and retaining a complement of two full-time staff, cost savings are expected in 2026 and beyond. Although it is difficult to fully ascertain what the Town’s legal needs will be in any given year, based on historical data, it is expected that savings could equate to more than $200,000 annually.”

According to Ontario’s public sector salary disclosures, those savings are roughly equivalent to Silver’s 2023 salary.

Delegated authorities previously granted to Stouffville’s solicitor have been transferred to the Town’s chief administrative officer (CAO), Sunny Bains. His execution of these duties will be done in consultation with external legal counsel as needed.

The CAO’s new responsibilities include providing instruction to external legal counsel, making minor amendments to agreements approved by Council, and managing litigation on matters with financial impacts of less than $100,000. The CAO also has the authority to initiate or defend civil claims below the Small Claims threshold of $35,000 when litigation success is likely.

The recommendation came from Bains, who is tasked with ensuring efficiency through his management and organization of Town Staff. During Council’s December 11, 2024, meeting, Councillor Maurice Smith referred to the decision as tough but necessary.

“You work for a period of time with an individual, and when the analysis shows that there has to be a change for the betterment of the Town, it’s a very hard decision to make,” Smith said in comments to Bullet Point News. “But it was what needed to be done.”