Minutes 06/06/1972 - Laserfiche WebLink

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3l TUESDAY JUNE 6, 1972 ,-- Q1y job as city attorney, as you know, is part-time. have obtained this information myself by taking a 60 but instead, used my best judgment). I could mile trip, ,-. Following the regular meeting of City Council on Tuesday, May 23, I informed the full Council of my action, and suggested that it was my best professional judgment that I retain this Danville law firm; that I needed assistance there in Danville where the suit had been filed; that this firm was of excellent reputation, and had heretofore been very active in Federal Court in matters of this nature. At that time Councilman West stated: "Why not Mr. 's firm? Why take the case out of town? We have lawyers here that are just as capable". I replied that I could not work with the local attorney he suggested; that I needed assistance there on the~ound; and that this was my best judgment. There was no further comment from anyone. That was May 23, and on May 24, Councilman West wrote a letter to all members of City Council, with copy to me, the City Manager and Councilman-Elect Morton Lester. In this letter he again named the local attorney he wished to be named assistant, and concluded his letter by stating: "- -this is a decision for Council to make and I trust no lawyer or law firm will be employed prior to Council making such decision". I received a copy of this letter on May 25, and forthwith called Mr. West, and among other things insisted that the matter of time within which to file our answer in court was of concern to me. Never- theless, on Friday, May 26, Councilman West left the City, and the State, I understand, and did not return until June 1st, an absence of seven (7) days - one week. I had no prior knowledge of this extended stay. But during this time, as head of the City's department of law, I was becoming rather apprehensive. I had the responsibility to act in some manner, as time was of the essence. - On Tuesday, May 30, at 12:15 P.M., it was necessary for City Council to hold special meeting to consider a reggonal library matter. But when I arrived at the meeting, hoping this would be the opportunity to resolve my professional problem, I inquired about Mr. West and the City Manager informed me he was still out of town. I stated my predicament to the Mayor and other council members present. I interpreted the response to my plea for action to be to the effect that I should use my own best judgment. I immediately and forthwith contacted the Danville firm by telephone and by letter. As a result, and even before Mr. West returned to the City; arrangement was successfully made through the Judge of the U. S. District Court, to extend the time within which to file the City's answer. But this did not prove to be the end to my dilemma! On return June 1st, he appeared to be highly upset because action, even after my sincere effort to explain to him. Mr. West's of my He