Sullivan City hires new special project counsel

Sullivan City extinguished its current special projects attorney Monday and hired new counsel to work on special projects after some difficulty deciding whether or not to discuss that decision in front of the public.

 

Council didn’t ultimately do much discussion in front of the public.

 

The city hired Frank Garza, its former primary attorney, for special projects in a 4-1 vote.

 

It’s not clear what his special projects will be.

 

Mayor Alma Salinas said the city initially hired law firm O’Hanlon, Demerath and Castillo to work on an annexation project in May of last year in a similar role.

 

 

Garza quit as city attorney days later, leaving O’Hanlon to fill in until the city could find a replacement.

 

The city named Jay Peña of Pope and Peña its attorney in June, though the city racked up a tab with O’Hanlon.

 

Salinas insisted the city pay that bill as a condition of parting ways with O’Hanlon.

 

Peña has served as the city’s attorney since it hired his firm.

 

Monday, when the item to hire Garza came up on council’s agenda, Salinas moved to go into executive session because she had a legal question.

 

No one seconded that motion, so it died.

 

Following some discussion, Salinas began describing the year-long lineage of the city’s current attorney, Peña.

 

After that, Salinas asked why the city needed new special council, and after very brief discussion Peña recommended she “unilaterally” take council into executive session.

 

“Unilaterally you move it, this one is one when it has to be done,” he said.

 

Councilman Rene Peña seconded Salinas’ motion, which she appeared to second again herself.

 

With the exception of Salinas, council voted to hire Garza when it returned.

 

“I feel Mr. Pena and Mr. Pope are doing an excellent job taking care of our community,” Salinas said. “I feel as a mayor it’s my responsibility to take care of our community’s money, the city’s money, so I feel that we do not need special counsel.”]