Mayfield council agrees to look for new town attorney after complaints about responsiveness

At a Jan. 7 work meeting, Mayfield council members said they no longer have confidence the town attorney is meeting the town’s needs and agreed to seek alternative counsel.

The discussion began after S1 raised outstanding ordinance-violation enforcement and noted the town had not received clear follow-up from its attorney, identified in the meeting as Kevin. Multiple council members said they had not received billing statements, timely responses to emails and phone calls, or confirmation of letters that were supposed to be mailed to residents in violation of town ordinances. "We've had no response from our attorney," S1 said during the exchange, and S2 added that Kevin appears stretched thin representing many jurisdictions.

Council members described several enforcement matters tied to attorney involvement, including letters sent about alleged conditional-use violations. S2 said the town needs clear communications and accountability from counsel and proposed putting a replacement on the next town-council agenda. A council member volunteered to vet candidates; several voices indicated support. At one point the body recorded unanimous verbal agreement to look for another attorney.

The council did not hire new counsel at the work meeting; instead, members directed staff to schedule an agenda item for the formal town council meeting that will include a process for identifying and approving potential replacements. That item will allow the town to provide public notice and let council members cast a formal vote.

Next steps: staff were asked to compile potential candidates and cost estimates for council review at the next formal meeting. "I think in our next town council meeting, we need to have that on an agenda to vote to get a new attorney," S2 said.

The decision to seek replacement counsel is an administrative action that the council will formalize at a future posted meeting.