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County delays vote on outside corporation counsel after capacity and conflict concerns
Summary
The Board postponed adoption of a contract with Abt Swayne Law LLC for Corporation Counsel services, voting 14–5 to send the selection back to the General Government committee after supervisors raised concerns about capacity and potential conflicts.
Discussion over Resolution 2023-82 — selecting Abt Swayne Law LLC as Vernon County's Corporation Counsel for Jan. 1, 2024–Dec. 31, 2026 — produced objections from several supervisors who raised capacity and conflict-of-interest concerns. Supervisor Rod Ofte moved to postpone the resolution and return it to the General Government committee for further consideration; the motion carried on a roll-call vote, 14–5.
Supervisor Taylor argued that committee discussion and listening sessions had occurred and preferred to decide at the full Board meeting; Supervisor Henry said she believed conflicts of interest existed and suggested Abt Swayne handle Human Services while Johns Flaherty serve as Corporation Counsel. Supervisor Meehan-Strub flagged the absence of specified rates for outside assistant counsel in the proposed documents.
The Board took no final action on contracting for long-term corporation counsel at this meeting; the matter will return to committee for further review. Administratively, Nikki Swayne (current Corp Counsel) said she would remain committed through the end of the current year, and the Board must decide on interim or future arrangements before Jan. 2024.
