Perhaps wishing to further assert its independence, the Mandeville City Council appears poised to hire its own legal representation at some point in the future. Some members of the new council, which formally met for the first time July 12, talked during that meeting of a desire to hire an attorney that could be brought in to advise the council in various legal issues. Council members said the attorney would not be full-time but would be brought in on a case-by-case basis. The discussion will likely intensify during upcoming work sessions regarding Mayor Donald Villere's proposed 2012-13 budget.
Some council members said the potential move to hire their own legal counsel doesn't signal any dissatisfaction with Edward Deano, whose reappointment as Villere's choice for city attorney the council unanimously approved July 12. Nor does it signal any rancor with the Villere administration, they say. (Indeed, such a scenario would be surprising at this stage, given that the new council members were just sworn to office this month.)
Councilman Rick Danielson said "in the big picture'' Deano represents the council and administration, but that in times of disagreements between the mayor and council, Deano would "be more for the administration.''
"The perception is that the city attorney might be more inclined to side with the mayor,'' added Councilman Ernest Burguieres, himself a lawyer. "It would take Edward (Deano) out of the crosshairs.''
Councilwoman Carla Buchholz said that for several years there has been a line item of up to $50,000 in the budget for council legal representation. Buchholz said during her four years on the council the group has never hired an attorney, and that line item has just "rolled over'' to subsequent budgets.
"Personally, I think it's a good idea for us to hire our own counsel away from the administration,'' she added.
Danielson said the council hasn't discussed who it might hire. "We've not gotten that far,'' he said.
Bob Warren can be reached at bwarren@timespicayune.com or 985.898.4832.
Source: http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/07/mandeville_city_council_consid.html
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