AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY

Consider a Resolution making appointment to the office of City Attorney and approving compensation for said position. Resolution adopted to reappoint Andrew J. Whalen, III as City Attorney on motion/second by Commissioners Todd/Ward.

Current City Attorney Andrew J. Whalen, III, presented a service agreement to cover calendar years 2014 and 2015. Per the Charter of the City of Griffin, Sec. 3.4 City Attorney, there shall be appointed by the Commission a City Attorney who shall hold office and serve at the pleasure of the Commission. The city attorney shall be a member of the State Bar of Georgia in good standing, having at lease five years of experience in the practice of law and familiarity in the field of municipal law.  The city attorney shall perform the duties of chief legal officer of a municipal corporation, whose duties shall also include prosecution and defense of legal actions brought in the name of or filed against the city, its officers, and its employees in any court; code enforcement and abatement of public nuisances; drafting and review of ordinances; contracts and other legal documents; general council to the commission and city manager; and legal oversight over operations of the city, its departments and its utilities. The commission shall fix the compensation for the office and determine, by ordinance or contract, whether the officer shall be full time or part time; provided, however, that the city attorney shall at all times be subject to the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct. The city attorney may be removed from office at any time, without cause or notice, upon the affirmative vote of al least four (4) members of the commission.

Staff recommends approval.

City Attorney's position is currently budgeted at $108,000 for FY 14-15.