[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6661772,"mediaKeyId","2405875-dcdd77d18af4bab567718a022c008be9","parentId",2405875,"title","Hooper council rescinds firing letter, appoints prior city attorneys as interim counsel and suspends RFP","audioSeconds",3265,"startMs",1636000,"endMs",4901000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2405875-dcdd77d18af4bab567718a022c008be9&start=1636&end=4901","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2405875-dcdd77d18af4bab567718a022c008be9/thumbnail_1636000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6661772/Utah/Hooper-council-rescinds-firing-letter-appoints-prior-city-attorneys-as-interim-counsel-and-suspends-RFP","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6661772-c877b4bdbed99fba6c4e77a02178c01b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137020&Signature=Kh6W0x5T8sc-qDAgDM-9JOXazpElrxPB3YPxYDvr8kzHjl~qGBB3brlz3UvmkL5Mf2TEIka6vZ2msJXmdKv0-AfwLJYDtX-dsv~FbFPVbtAXwmljfP5Wu1PQ-nZJ0k8jPWOzU0u8u6fwyGXo4161YXkDLJVFdG9MSMFxFeDFDX1AjOzp01kPjGdcxtstJN2eoMkyPpoZmm3aMUQm9gApnQ4QRUWWcJwaYDngTGfOW7NNSDFYnkdGeqiuTA0O9l1ZYRskPv65c90wSFaSbcOx9vfemL8qmhfVAKK6ECpV7B4~TJz0vm4~NZZSEFJl4CgldmII~lbGl~wlh3YiyNcEEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hooper City","date","2025-02-26T18:07:49.78Z","article","Hooper City Council members voted on Feb. 25 to rescind a unilateral letter sent to the city’s law firm and to appoint that firm as interim legal counsel while the city revises a request for proposals (RFP) for legal services.

Council discussion about legal representation began after members raised concerns that the city had been paying attorneys without a current contract. Mayor Sherry Beam told the council she had been contacted by the Utah State Auditor’s Office, which sought documentation after receiving a complaint that the city was paying its attorneys without a contract. Beam said the city did not have a current contract and that staff had prepared an RFP; she said the RFP was posted with a March 5 deadline for proposals and that council would vote on proposals by March 20.

Several council members objected to the manner in which the city’s longstanding attorneys were notified their services would no longer be used. Council Member Wilcox said the termination \"didn't time out right\" and that the attorneys had provided long service. Other council members said the lack of a written contract required a correction in process.

Council Member Hill moved to rescind the unilateral termination letter dated Feb. 21, 2025, apologize to the named attorneys and make them the interim legal counsel effective immediately until the council and staff complete an RFP the council adopts. Council Member Wilcox seconded; the motion passed by voice vote. The minutes record the motion carried.

In a separate, related motion, the council rescinded the current RFP for legal services and directed staff to revise it in consultation with the council so all six council members agree on the scope and language before reposting. Council Member Hill moved the rescission and revision; Council Member Maragone seconded. That motion also passed by voice vote.

Mayor Beam said she included language in the RFP to help control legal expenses and inquiries by clarifying who may contact counsel, saying she wanted to avoid unexpected invoicing at the end of the month. Council members expressed concern that an RFP's phrasing should not make counsel function solely \"at the pleasure of the mayor,\" and the council directed that the rewritten RFP reflect collective oversight.

Administrative notes and next steps in the meeting: mayoral staff said Madison (the city's advisor on LAA matters) was drafting an interim contract to preserve continuous legal representation until the RFP process is complete. Proposals are due March 5; council interviews and a vote on a permanent legal services contract are scheduled for March 20 unless the council sets an alternate timeline.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","February 25, 2025 - City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Following concerns about the city lacking a contract with its legal counsel, the Hooper City Council voted to rescind a unilateral termination letter, name the prior attorneys interim counsel and withdraw the existing RFP so the council can collaboratively revise it.","taxTitle","Hooper City Council, Hooper , Weber County, Utah","taxId",21280,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6661776,"Hooper council tables ordinance that would remove mayor’s executive powers; agrees to closed-door talks",4494,310000,4804000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2405875-dcdd77d18af4bab567718a022c008be9&start=310&end=4804","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2405875-dcdd77d18af4bab567718a022c008be9/thumbnail_310000.jpg","/articles/6661776/Utah/Hooper-council-tables-ordinance-that-would-remove-mayors-executive-powers-agrees-to-closed-door-talks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6661776-5f41604b1be9c6d02b70112b042507c6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137020&Signature=NY8YgpxgYx5vGMryhr8QbWiWsitZLHaXdLP97xlJnpj40TuLyB0MWKj9hQ1kYHuQmUxwymdvQ9Qi1Ut3je05StZ47fxPtOARabWoOBSZNxTJw~Y65awKm58Rh15rul-cAMvpgknCLNhFmo0b2M9iENTowublLcvxaRG7ME7H6ApkHE0EbizIdI1Z-loh5ufZQdjaWeXqpyJMY1YTcWVSwZSpheojb2UE3oJJbKPTmdO0qEiOLb1fQb91Zf2V6u2V0nGgIruIGjBVY0sE6B8a5QYy2yIaBiCRPgXSCyDhGQfFUrYD3VNvsJ3R1m0B0VuoRaHlCpAq0dlDDADf~nJdNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Sherry Beam opened discussion at the Feb. 25 Hooper City Council meeting by describing an ordinance in the meeting packet that would remove executive and administrative powers from the office of the mayor and vest those powers exclusively in the city council. \"It is an ordinance amending the municipal code ... to remove the mayor's powers in a 6 member council form of government,\" Beam said, summarizing the proposal and noting the need for a transition plan if functions are shifted.

The ordinance prompted extended debate about transparency, personnel decisions and the city’s budgeting process. Council members said they had been frustrated by what they described as limited input into agenda-setting and hiring. \"We've not been allowed to put things on the agenda, on several occasions,\" Council Member Ryan D. Wilcox said during the discussion, adding that the council had not received timely budget information for several months.

Supporters of tabling the ordinance said the city should try internal remedies first, including mediation between the mayor and council. Council Member Hill moved to table the ordinance for three months and to hold a closed-door meeting to attempt to resolve the council–mayor disputes; Council Member Northrop seconded. The council then took a roll-call voice vote; the minutes record the following recorded ayes: Council Member Wilcox; Council Member Hill; Council Member Northrop; Council Member Fowers; Council Member Debbie Maragone. The presiding mayor does not vote except to break ties. The motion carried. The council set a review date three months out to revisit the proposal.

Mayor Beam and several council members emphasized the operational implications of any change to mayoral authority. Beam cited guidance from the Utah League of Cities and Towns and the Wasatch Front Regional Council stressing that a shift of administrative duties requires a transition plan covering personnel oversight, fiscal management and municipal procedures. She said the city does not have a city manager or administrator and that, in practice, the mayor had been handling many day-to-day functions.

Council members raised specific examples they said illustrated the need for greater transparency: several new or reallocated positions were filled (a city planner, a part-time deputy city recorder and a financial clerk, and money budgeted for a road supervisor), and some members said they learned of hires only after the fact. Mayor Beam responded that the hires were funded from positions that had vacated salaries and that she had discussed staffing needs with treasurer and staff. \"We had a financial director. She left ... we were able to hire a city planner ... with money that was already allocated in the budget,\" Beam said.

Council Member Hill argued the ordinance could be divisive and asked for time to pursue mediation and improved communication before altering the structure of government. \"I recommend that we table this for 3 months till June 25, contingent upon a discussion, a closed door meeting ... In 3 months' time, if we're all satisfied with where we're at, then we'll dismiss the ordinance. If we're not, then we'll move forward,\" Hill said.

Next steps: the council will schedule a closed-door session (per state law exceptions) to pursue conflict-resolution options and will review the ordinance at the council meeting set three months after Feb. 25.","At a Feb. 25 Hooper City Council meeting, the council voted to table an ordinance that would strip the mayor of most executive and administrative duties. Members cited staffing and budget concerns and agreed to a closed-door meeting and a three-month review before acting again.","actionData","errors"]

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Hooper council rescinds firing letter, appoints prior city attorneys as interim counsel and suspends RFP

Hooper council tables ordinance that would remove mayor’s executive powers; agrees to closed-door talks