LODI — After spending the first week of the new year without legal counsel, the village plans to contract the services of Akron lawyer Irving Sugerman.

At a special village council meeting Jan. 7, members unanimously accepted the bid of Sugerman, who is of Goldman and Rosen Ltd. in Akron. All members were present.

Sugerman serves as law director for Copley, Springfield and Coventry townships in Summit County. Sugerman said he applied for the position of solicitor because “it sounded like a wonderful opportunity.” While the contract with Sugerman has not been officially approved, Clerk Annette Geissman said council most likely will do so when it meets Monday. Sugerman’s contract will be for two years at $7,128 annually. He must attend two council meetings and one Board of Public Affairs meeting a month. Any services rendered after that are $99 an hour, she said.

The village began advertising for the position of solicitor in November. The village received 15 applications for the position, Geissman said. Council interviewed five of the applicants, two of which were Sugerman and former Solicitor Ted Lesiak, she said.

At a Dec. 17 meeting, council voted not to renew the contract with Lesiak, who has held the position of solicitor since 1995.

“I think everybody felt it was time for a change and something new,” Councilman Brad Rice said Tuesday.

Lesiak came under scrutiny when he was hired by developer Tim Sanford to help acquire land in nearby Harrisville Township on which Sanford aims to build a water park.

“We did have the concern about the conflict of interest with the water park,” Rice said.

“When we started interviewing, we realized he’s (Sugerman) got more experience and he’s just a little more qualified,” Rice said.