Minutes 09/09/1975 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

90 TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 9, 1975 asked to be heard first and was so granted this privilege, with Mr. Frith, on behalf of his client, registering objections to the allowing of City Attorney Worthy to offer comments on the grounds that the law firm, of which Mr. Worthy is a member, has legally represented one of the opponents (Mr. Roy C. Stone and Mr. Stone's various business interests) to the proposed property rezoning for many years; that Mr. Worthy had advised, in earlier proceedings on this matter, that Mr. James H. Ford, Attorney at Law and Chairman of the City's Planning Commission, should withdraw as counsel for Nationwide Homes in these proceedings, for which Nationwide Homes had initially retained Mr. Ford; and that City Attorney Worthy's questioning of the aforesaid Mr. Charles Barnes at the public hearing conducted by Council at its August 26th meeting tended to bring out testimony favoring the opponents of the proposed rezoning. Mr. Frith then suggested that the City Attorney obtain an opinion from the Virginia Attorney General as to whether Mr. Worthy, in his position as City Attorney, has a conflict of interest in this matter. Attorney Kiser, on behalf of his clients (opposing the proposed property rezoning), interposed the contention that petitioner for rezoning has had ample time, during the weeks the request has been considered, to have raised any challenge inferring a conflict of interest on the part of the City Attorney and, if it were going to inject such a challenge, it could have and should have done so before now. In response to Attorney Frith, City Attorney Worthy pointed out that his firm's representation over the years of the Roy C. Stone interests is no secret but had refused, although requested, to represent Mr. Stone and his interests in opposition to the Nationwide Homes' rezoning request, because of his (Mr. Worthy's) position as City Attorney and legal advisor to City Council.