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Aurora council approves assistant corporation counsel amid budget concerns
Summary
The City Council voted 7-5 to approve the appointment of Michelle Nearman as Assistant Corporation Counsel 3, after a heated debate over timing, hiring process and projected savings from reduced outside counsel.
Aurora City Council approved a resolution appointing Michelle Nearman as Assistant Corporation Counsel 3 on Tuesday, after extended debate about budget timing, hiring practices and anticipated savings from cutting outside counsel work.
The hire passed 7–5. Supporters said the in-house position is intended to reduce tens of thousands of dollars in outside legal bills and provide continuity during upcoming labor negotiations; opponents said hiring should wait until the city’s 2026 budget is finalized and publicly available.
The council’s corporation counsel (name not given on the record) outlined the rationale for the hire, telling the council the city had incurred roughly $295,000 in outside labor-related legal fees through the prior meeting and had just…
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