Hooper awards city legal contract to Wilson & Wilson PLLC; council retains Reed Richards to assist transition

Mayor Sherry Bingham presented responses from law firms that submitted proposals to be Hooper’s municipal legal counsel and invited the applicants to address the council. Attorneys Matthew Wilson and Darren Curtis answered questions about ordinance enforcement and code tools.

Darren Curtis told the council that the firm’s role is to “uphold the law” and that the firm’s “recommendation is to always follow the code.” Matthew Wilson advised the council that enforcement options depend on code language and available contractual enforcement resources; he recommended the council examine the municipal code and any contract with the county code-enforcement provider to ensure the city has effective tools.

Council Member Fowers moved to award the contract to Wilson & Wilson, PLLC and to retain Reed Richards as a transition advisor until Richards formally notifies the city he is leaving. Council Member Maragone seconded the motion. The mayor called for a vote and the motion carried; the council welcomed the new firm.

Why it matters: The city will begin operating under new outside counsel. Council members asked the incoming firm to focus on ensuring municipal ordinances and enforcement tools are clear and enforceable and to coordinate with existing staff and former city counsel during a handover period.

Next steps: Staff will execute the contract with Wilson & Wilson, PLLC and will coordinate a transition with Reed Richards per the council motion. The new firm indicated readiness to begin work once the contract is signed.

Ending: Council members thanked the outgoing counsel for long service and welcomed the new firm. The council did not set a firm end date for Richards’ transition support and agreed to accept his notice when provided.