The council debated two separate legal staffing items on June 17: a late resolution to hire outside counsel for pending litigation and a proposal to appoint Tom Egan to a municipal attorney role with full-time hours and a discussed salary.

Outside counsel resolution fails: Administration presented a late resolution to appoint outside counsel (Mark Tabakan of the Weiner Law Group) to defend the city in a pending lawsuit. After roll-call voting the motion failed (vote recorded on the floor as 3 yes, 3 no, 1 absent). Several council members said the administration should provide more options and return with alternatives; council directed staff to pursue other counsel or to re-present the item at the next meeting.

Municipal attorney appointment discussed: Councilmembers debated a motion to appoint Tom Egan as municipal attorney on a full-time basis and discussed an employment figure (a motion on the floor proposed $190,000 annual compensation and a 35-hour week). Egan indicated his willingness to accept terms and the council indicated formal action would follow; members asked to finalize contractual details and any employment agreement in closed session or in a follow-up session and to document any MOU.

How council framed it: Supporters said a stable in-house municipal attorney would save money versus recurring outside counsel and provide faster turnaround for city needs. Critics urged detailed terms and asked that any change be accompanied by a formal employment contract and clarity on hours, benefits and transitional arrangements.

Next steps: Council directed administration and legal staff to draft a formal employment agreement and to present it for ratification; administration to return with alternatives for outside litigation counsel that got a failed vote on the late resolution.