Council rejects motion to direct city manager to provide legal invoices for review

A motion to amend the July 6 South Haven City Council agenda to direct the city manager to provide legal invoices to council for review failed on a roll‑call vote after a brief debate about oversight and privilege.

Councilmember (speaker 6) moved to add an agenda item directing the manager to provide legal invoices, saying she routinely asks staff for the documents and citing invoice totals in the packet ("Bloom's Slug" invoices and an over $500,000 total for recent months, per the moving member). She said council needs invoice access because "the legal council is accountable to city council, and the best way to do that is reviewing the invoices."

During roll call, several members voted no and the motion failed (approximately 2 yes, 5 no). Opponents said legal invoices often contain privileged information and that releasing them could violate attorney‑client privilege or require redaction under FOIA. City Manager Kate said she was willing to provide itemized breakdowns already included in accounts‑payable materials and that full invoices may need redaction because of privilege exemptions.

Councilmembers discussed alternatives: submitting a written two‑member request to place an item on a future agenda, asking staff for redacted summaries or increased itemization in the AP packet, and working with the city attorney to identify what can be disclosed without waiving privilege.

No formal policy change was adopted June 6; councilmembers who sought more oversight were advised to use existing rules for agenda additions or to pursue a structured request that protects privileged material.

The council separately approved routine consent items and other votes later in the meeting.