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Attorney and council debate city‑attorney appointment language after public comment flags charter conflict
Summary
An attorney speaking at public comment said proposed language in an ordinance to amend city‑attorney appointment procedures appears to conflict with Newman City's charter and contains typographical errors; the mayor took the comments under advisement and council proceeded with the agenda.
During consideration of an ordinance to amend Newman City’s Code (section 2‑116) on the appointment of the city attorney, public commenter Vernon M. Strickland — a local attorney — told the council the proposed draft adds a sentence creating an "executive office" for the city attorney that conflicts with the city's charter and noted typographical errors that could affect enforceability.
Strickland argued the charter (originally adopted 1893 and amended in 1987) controls municipal appointment processes and warned that the draft ordinance’s language may be inconsistent. He also suggested technical corrections to section 3's severability language. Mayor Goss thanked Strickland and said the comments would be taken under advisement. The transcript records no formal legal opinion or subsequent amendment adopted during the meeting; council proceeded with the agenda after public comment.
