After heated debate, Lapeer commission approves up to $10,000 for outside labor counsel (Bowman PLC)

The Lapeer City Commission voted Dec. 15 to engage Bowman PLC for limited labor and employment counsel with a not-to-exceed amount of $10,000 after extended debate over procedure, neutrality and the mayor’s contacts with outside counsel.The item arose after the mayor reported he had inquired informally about outside labor counsel in connection with a confidential personnel matter involving a charter officer. Commissioner Atwood moved to table the item until the city attorney produced a written opinion about whether the mayor acted within his charter authority when initiating contact with outside counsel; that motion failed. Commissioners clashed over whether the mayor had exceeded authority, whether the city attorney could be neutral in a personnel matter involving a charter officer, and whether the city should pursue multiple bids or cap the engagement.Amounts and procedures were a central focus: Bowman’s quoted hourly rate of $650 was discussed in the meeting record; commissioners pushed for a cap and for clarity on who would direct external counsel. City Attorney Francis advised that the commission, acting as a body, may retain special counsel and that, in practice, the city manager often serves as a liaison for majority matters. Commissioner McCarthy moved to approve the engagement and later amended the motion to set a $10,000 not-to-exceed cap. The motion passed on roll-call vote after the commission agreed the engagement letter would authorize the mayor to execute the agreement on behalf of the commission with direction to be provided in accordance with commission procedures.