La Plata council directs town manager to secure continuity of legal services during attorney search

La Plata — Facing the February end of the town’s special‑counsel contract, the La Plata Town Council on Dec. 9 directed Town Manager Chuck Stevens to ensure there will be no gap in legal services while the mayor completes a search for a permanent town attorney.

Councilman Johnson introduced the agenda item to authorize a short‑term appointment of special counsel as a continuity measure. Mayor James said he had conducted an extensive search of municipal legal representation across Maryland, narrowed candidates to a short list and expected to bring a finalist for council review next Tuesday; he said his recommendation would be subject to council approval under the town charter.

Council members pressed for a clear vetting process and adequate read‑ahead materials. Some members asked for two weeks’ review time before interviews; others asked that the manager plan a contingency if approvals extend past the current contract end. After discussion the council registered a consensus that Stevens should secure bridge legal services as needed to avoid a lapse. Stevens said he will pursue short‑term legal services to bridge the gap and will bring any contract that exceeds the $20,000 threshold to council for approval.

The council also discussed whether the incumbent special counsel (referred to in the discussion as Mr. Gulo) might assist with a handoff; staff said they have not yet discussed any handover terms with the incumbent.

What’s next: Mayor James expects to present a finalist for town attorney consideration in mid‑January; Stevens will pursue bridge legal services, bringing contracts above $20,000 to council action.