Newman City council suspends city attorney nomination amid dispute over charter and ordinance

Mayor Sheppard nominated Vernon Strickland for city attorney at the council’s January meeting, setting off an extended debate over whether a recent ordinance or the city charter controls the appointment process.

The mayor argued the nomination falls within the council’s authority under existing rules and said the nomination is aimed at giving the city an attorney with experience to match the municipality’s growth. “The mayor appoints, council approves, which is the full appointment process,” the mayor said during the discussion.

Several council members pressed for clarity about the legal basis for the nomination, saying a December ordinance might conflict with the city charter and that the passage of that ordinance raised questions about procedural validity. One council member urged that the city follow an open vetting process so that applicants have an opportunity to apply and be reviewed by a panel rather than a single nomination.

Vernon Strickland addressed the council and summarized his qualifications, saying he has handled municipal matters and commercial matters for two decades and asking the council to trust his legal experience. “I’ve been practicing law for 20 years now,” he said.

After discussion, the mayor asked for a roll-call vote related to calling the question; the record shows individual roll-call responses during that sequence (several council members voted ‘nay’ and at least two voted ‘aye’). Following the roll call, the council voted to suspend further action on the city attorney appointment and to revisit the position in executive session so legal questions about the ordinance and charter can be resolved.

The council’s action did not remove the sitting city attorney. Council members clarified that, until a replacement is formally appointed and approved, the current city attorney remains in place. The council also noted that if it wants to receive other nominations before acting, it may need a declaratory judgment from a court to confirm whether the December ordinance is valid or void under Georgia law.

What happens next: the council agreed to move the item into executive session for legal advice and to return to open session with a resolution or further direction once the legal questions are addressed.