Charter commission weighs who the city attorney serves and whether council may retain outside counsel

The Lansing Charter Commission examined competing proposals this week over the role and removal of the city attorney and whether city council should have a formal entitlement to hire outside counsel.

The commission reviewed staff-drafted language that would let either the mayor or a two‑thirds majority of city council suspend or remove the city attorney, with the other branch having a veto-style check in some drafts. Commissioners and counsel discussed due-process language, whether removals should be "for cause," and how any veto or override would operate under existing charter provisions.

City Attorney Greg Venker, who attended the meeting, told the commission his legal obligations are to the corporate entity of the City of Lansing, not to a single elected official. "My client is the corporate body of the city," Venker said, describing the…