Fountain Hills council memberaudit spurs town attorneyresignation; residents press for documents

Councilwoman Gail Earl said she requested an executive session to review the performance and billing under the town—s contract with its outside law firm, and within days the town attorney resigned.

The resignation and subsequent public dispute over billing and transparency dominated public comment at the May meeting of the Fountain Hills Town Council, where residents urged the council to release the documents behind Councilwoman Earl—s review and criticized how the town has handled executive sessions and attorney communications.

The dispute matters because it concerned the town—s legal representation and public trust. Councilwoman Gail Earl framed her review as an oversight duty aligned to the council—s responsibility for legal contracts and said she requested the executive session to evaluate the law firm—s work; she told the council she remains "steadfast in my commitment to honesty and transparency within the bounds of the law." The council majority retained the law firm for a 60-day transition period, the meeting record shows.

At the podium, residents described the episode as a breach of transparency and asked the council to publish the audit and related materials. "We are entitled to see those audit papers," resident Beth Culp said during the meeting—s public comment period. "You made a pledge of transparency. We demand that you release the audit, and that we move forward." Resident Renee Yarian said the town attorney—s resignation letter had been provided to a local newspaper and criticized the allegations about the firm—s billing practices as serious; she asked the council to release the documents backing those assertions so the public could evaluate them.

Other residents at the meeting voiced support for Councilwoman Earl's right to review the contract and questioned the former town attorney's public statements. "Thank you again, Councilwoman Earl, for your efforts and for truly looking out for the residents of Fountain Hills," Liz Gildersleeve said.

Council members and staff declined to release executive-session materials in the meeting. Town Manager Rachel said she did not have the audit documents in digital form at the time of the meeting and that she would work with Councilwoman Earl to obtain and provide whatever records can be shared. The council also voted to retain the existing law firm on a limited transition basis to ensure continuity while the council considers next steps.

Decisions and next steps recorded in the meeting included the council majority—s action to retain the town—s legal firm for a 60-day transition and staff direction to try to assemble responsive materials for public release when allowable. Councilwoman Earl said she would work with colleagues during the transition and that she would make public what she is allowed to share.

The council did not vote at the meeting to remove or name a new town attorney; the record shows only the transition arrangement and the staff commitment to locate and share audit materials when available. Council members indicated further discussion may follow in future sessions.

For now, the town manager said she will work with Councilwoman Earl to assemble the audit documents and related records and provide them to the public as permitted. The council—s next regular meeting is expected to include follow-up items if material is available.