Melanie Lekocevic reports in The Daily Mail the Athens Town Council recently hired labor relations consultant Michael Richardson to help with upcoming negotiations. The labor expert will work with the Council to negotiate an agreement with the town's highway workers. Richardson consults with numerous counties and municipalities throughout the state, including the towns of Catskill and Coeymans. The funds to cover the cost of Richardson's consultant services were included in the 2013 town budget, according to officials. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.