Dormont council recently voted to replace the borough's longtime solicitor in what some officials are calling a cost-cutting move.

On Nov. 3, council voted 5-2 to replace Thomas Ayoob with Deron Gabriel.

Borough Manager Warren Cecconi said Mr. Gabriel's monthly retainer will be $500, compared with Mr. Ayoob's $1,000 fee. Mr. Gabriel's billing rate is $75 per hour, compared with Mr. Ayoob's $135.

Mr. Cecconi said Mr. Ayoob's total charges and fees for 2007 were $141,876 and so far this year, are $92,385, which includes $40,367 for delinquent collections.

But not all the council members think the change was made strictly for financial reasons.

Councilman Blair Brockmeyer called the vote political, and said it was simply a matter of council President John Maggio not liking Mr. Ayoob.

"We went from the experience of Tom to a gentleman who will need 12 to 18 months to catch up," he said. "Tom's experience saved Dormont thousands of dollars and gave us tremendous negotiating credibility."

Mr. Maggio said council had been discussing the solicitor costs for two years. He said Mr. Gabriel has experience equal to Mr. Ayoob.

Mr. Gabriel, who is a commissioner in South Fayette, has been an assistant county solicitor for 11 years and was solicitor for the Redevelopment Authority for Clairton.

Mr. Maggio denied there was anything personal about the change.

"This was a good business decision made by a group of people who are concerned about an escalating budget," he said. "In these difficult times where it is tough to balance budgets it was necessary to cut costs while still maintaining high professional services. It is achievable to do both."

Councilman Drew Lehman said there was a failed motion to replace Mr. Ayoob earlier in the year, and he voted against it because he didn't feel council had thoroughly researched the issue.

"We ran on a platform of change, but it would be reckless to just change solicitors because he wasn't our guy," he said. "Now that I have seen the numbers broken down I am ready to move forward with Deron."

Council members said they were unsure exactly how long Mr. Ayoob had been Dormont's solicitor but that it was about 12 years.

Mr. Cecconi said council also hired the law firm of Campbell Durant & Beatty P.C. as chief labor negotiator for the borough in collective bargaining and other labor relations matters. The firm replaced attorney Tom Barry.

Mr. Cecconi said Mr. Barry's bill in Dormont in 2007 was $8,637.50, and to date in 2008 is $14,396.