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Council authorizes outside counsel engagements and to seek lead city attorney via RFP after executive session
Summary
After executive session discussing attorney-client privileged legal advice, the council approved amended ordinance language on the city attorney role, retained Haynesworth, Sinclair, Boyd and McCullough Conn Appel as outside counsel, and authorized an RFP for a lead general counsel/city attorney position.
Following executive session(s) on Jan. 14, during which council received attorney‑client privileged legal advice, the Hanahan City Council took multiple actions in open session related to legal representation.
Council approved Ordinance 1-2025 to amend city code sections 2-2-10 and 2-2-11 concerning the city attorney. The motion included a minor amendment to clarify that the City Council may retain legal counsel for city bodies including the planning commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals/Board of Construction Appeals (BCA). The motion passed with recorded votes; Council member Dyson recorded an abstention on the ordinance approval while other members recorded “aye” votes.
Council then voted to retain the law firms Haynesworth, Sinclair & Boyd and McCullough Conn Appel and to authorize the city administrator to execute engagement letters discussed in executive session. Council also moved to issue a request for proposals (RFP) for the lead general counsel/city attorney role so the city can competitively solicit a primary internal or contracted city attorney. Council emphasized that hiring and firing of legal representation remains a council prerogative.
The transcript shows the motions and roll-call votes were taken in open session immediately after executive session; the council record indicates motions to retain outside counsel and to issue the RFP passed by majority vote (one recorded abstention was noted on the ordinance vote). The engagement letters and RFP specifications will be executed by the city administrator and brought back to council as required by procurement policy and the ordinance changes.
The actions change how legal services will be provided to the city (outside engagements and a competitive search for a lead counsel), but the council retains authority to change representation in the future.
