Minutes 08/12/1969 - Laserfiche WebLink

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5-1- TUESDAY AUGUST 12, 1969 City Attorney to employ--as associate counsel in the defense of the City Manager and the City--Mr. Jackson L. Kiser, Attorney at Law and member of the law firm of Young, Kiser, Frith & Haskins. It was noted that the School Board has authorized the City Attorney to employ the same associate counsel in defense of the School Board in the pending case of Vaughn vs. School Board, concerning the Weekday Religious Education program conducted for a number of years. With reference to press releases and ensuing publicity in the Hodgin suit, City Attorney Cubine presented the following statement; The American Bar Association's canons of ethics, for the Bar, brands if of not proper ethics for the contesting parties to make news releases to the press that would tend to slant the case before trial toward either the plaintiff or the defendant. We have asked the Federal Court for an order directing the plaintiff to cease and desist from this practice. The court has responded by letter, with copy to plaintiff's counsel, stating that the Court is of the belief the plaintiff and his counsel will henceforth observe this rule of ethics. This means, as far as we are concerned, that the court records in these cases are open to the press or to anyone. In hearty concurrence with Councilman Hartford's observation and recommendation, Council unanimously recognized local businesses and property owners, especially in the business district, for their interest and efforts culminating in many physical improvements to their properties, enhancing the appearance of these properties and the business district as a whole. Mr. William C. Edwards, of 415 Swanson Street, on behalf of the Swanson Street Improvement Association, appeared before Council and urged that their curb-and- gutter petition--involving the segment between Armstead Street and Lincoln Street--be included in the 1969-70 construction program, citing a number of problems such construction would eliminate as well as the fact that all property owners along this street segment are signers of the original petition and are financially re.ady and eager to participate in the project. Council referred this matter to Public Works Director George W. Brown for review and for report to Council at its forthcoming August 26th meeting.