Shelter Island Town Considers Abolishing Town Attorney’s Office

The Shelter Island Town Board is moving forward with a proposal to abolish the formal office of the Town Attorney, a change officials say would give the town greater flexibility to hire outside legal counsel and reduce costs.

During a public hearing at the board’s July 21 meeting, interim Town Attorney Steven Kiely explained that the measure would replace the single in-house attorney model with the ability to contract legal services on a case-by-case basis.