Mayor announces intent to pursue termination of City Attorney contract after disputed legal guidance

Mayor Victoria Marincin told the Winlock City Council on Feb. 9 that she intends to initiate the process to terminate the city's contract with Buzzard Law Group and seek proposals from municipal law firms at the next meeting.

Marincin said she raised concerns after finding what she described as conflicting legal advice and the removal of contract protections for the city. She cited an example in which she said two different ordinances were prepared relating to her proposed donation of a computer and said those inconsistent responses led her to conclude the city should consider specialized municipal counsel. "Regardless of the council's decision on legal representation, the City will move forward with formal controls on how legal work is requested, authorized, and billed," Marincin said. She told council members she had "lost trust" and would ask them to consider termination and an RFP at the next regular meeting.

City Attorney Jim Buzzard responded in the same meeting, saying the earlier dispute partly arose from a request to disclose matters discussed in executive session and that he would not violate attorney-client privilege. Buzzard clarified that the fee rate did not increase for 2026 and that a provision designating the mayor as the sole gatekeeper for access to the City Attorney had been removed; he described recent operational practice as allowing department heads to contact the attorney as needed to perform their duties. Buzzard also said he believed he was being portrayed negatively.

The mayor did not move for immediate termination during the meeting; she said she would formally ask the council to consider termination and an RFP at the next meeting, giving members time to review and ask questions. The council took no formal action on the contract during the Feb. 9 meeting.