The Hempstead Town Board has approved hiring a law firm already representing Supervisor John Ferretti in a contempt proceeding that arose from an open meetings law lawsuit against the town.

The board's action added the firm to a slate of law firms approved to do legal work on the town's behalf.

Ferretti had retained Richard Donoghue, a partner at Manhattan-based Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman and former acting deputy U.S. attorney general, to represent him in the contempt proceedings.

On Tuesday, the board added the firm, as well as Garden City-attorney Matthew Didora.

Town spokesman Brian Devine, also on Tuesday, declined to disclose the fee schedule for the newly approved firms and other firms working on the contempt case.

Though the town board resolution sets out a fee schedule

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