The City Council struck a deal with Mayor Paul Coogan and the city’s official attorney to permit it to keep $40,000 on hand if the council feels the need to hire its own attorney. 

 

On July 28, the City Council held a special meeting to hear the third proposal of the city’s $483.5 million annual operating budget, and in approving it, councilors disclosed that a “compromise” was agreed upon when it comes to the council's ability to retain legal counsel — but it comes with conditions.

 

A new policy framework has been drafted to identify the stipulations for how the City Council may call upon the $40,000 reserve allowance to hire legal counsel, and who that lawyer may be.

 

The council’s request was officially satisfied in a Memorandum of Agreement that stated the city would provide the $40,000.

 

Councilors and Corporation Counsel Alan Rumsey have for months been at odds, with councilors requesting the power to hire an attorney and Rumsey insisting that his office already represents them.

 

City Councilor Shawn Cadime told councilors that he and Rumsey discussed the matter in a “long” yet “productive” meeting. They settled on a “compromise” that would reserve an appropriation for the council to retain its own legal counsel.

 

See more at heraldnews.com.