Carl Junction council authorizes outside counsel for impeachment proceedings at $300 an hour

The Carl Junction Board of Aldermen voted Aug. 5 to approve a legal fee agreement to secure outside counsel for upcoming impeachment proceedings, authorizing the mayor or city administrator to execute the contract. The ordinance authorizes the fee agreement with the attorney named in the proposed contract and calls for a $2,400 retainer, $300 hourly rate and reimbursable expenses as provided in the agreement. The council approved the ordinance after moving it up on the agenda so the contract would be in place before scheduling the hearing. City counsel explained to the board that the contract is intended to provide procedural advice to the mayor pro tem, who will chair the hearing, and that the attorney’s role can vary: the attorney can advise the chair on evidentiary and procedural rulings, or the council could instead appoint an independent hearing officer to make those rulings. The city attorney said the contract can transition if the council chooses a hearing officer rather than counsel advising the chair. Alderman Holly Levine said she supported having outside counsel because ‘‘none of us are attorneys’’ and the council should be ‘‘protected’’ procedurally during a hearing. Other members raised concerns about public input into the process and the cumulative cost; meeting remarks noted the city has already spent money on related matters and that additional expenses were likely. The ordinance was moved and carried to second and final readings and passed by a vote of seven in favor, zero opposed, with one member absent. The council also discussed scheduling: the board set evening hearing dates with Aug. 20 (backup Aug. 22) and Aug. 6/8 options discussed to allow consecutive evenings if the hearing runs long. Council members instructed staff to finalize scheduling and to file any contract amendment needed before the hearing if the board later elects to appoint a hearing officer instead of maintaining counsel in an advisory role. Outcome: ordinance approved; city staff to execute the legal fee agreement and coordinate hearing logistics.