Sometimes its hard to watch as our city fathers do business.

It’s kind of like a car crash you pass on the freeway. You know it may not be pretty and you really don’t want to look but you can’t help yourself. So, you glance over with anticipation. A bunch of first responders surrounding twisted metal. Is everyone alright? Is someone seriously hurt? You pass on by, say a little prayer and hope for the best.

That’s the feeling I have headed into this evening’s East Ridge City Council’s “Special Called Meeting” dealing with the fact our City Attorney, Hal North, is stepping aside. North served in this capacity for four years and did a commendable job dispensing legal advice, holding up the city’s end in the courtroom and gently reminding some council members of the basics of “Robert’s Rules of Order.”

Let me give a little perspective on how we arrived at this point

North stepped into the breach after former Councilman Jim Bethune fulfilled a campaign promise of firing John Anderson. Bethune was principally upset over how much money the city was paying Anderson and his law firm, Grant Konvalinka and Harrison. Others believed that Anderson was more of a policy maker than a lawyer for the city. 

Bethune and Marc Gravitt were going to install former City Attorney Cris Helton to serve once again in that capacity. But at the eleventh hour Bethune told the council and those gathered at the meeting that he just couldn’t go through with it. After all, it wasn’t so many years before that Helton’s booking photo appeared in the Times Free Press. I’m speculating that the board did not want the potential controversy that hiring Helton would bring on them and the city.

So, North kind of backed into the job.

North was repaid for taking the position by being greeted rather coldly by Mayor Brent Lambert and Councilman Larry Sewell, who were almost in tears when Anderson was axed. Through the years, Mayor Lambert and some on the board have ignored North’s legal advice on many issues before the council. And at least on two occasions, Mayor Lambert has taken it upon himself to craft resolutions and ordinances rather than call on North to do so.

Tonight, before the ink is even dry on North’s resignation, I’m told that the council will move to hire Mark Litchford as our next City Attorney. Litchford is an attorney with Grant Konvalinka and Harrison, the same firm in which John Anderson is a partner. The firm’s Website states that Litchford specializes in personal injury and criminal defense.

I’m sure Litchford is a good lawyer. I wasn’t familiar with him before his name surfaced as a replacement for North. My question is why hire an attorney that doesn’t specialize in municipal law? Furthermore, what is the rush?

It seems to me the prudent move would be to hire an interim with experience in municipal law and/or employment law. Take a month to accept proposals from various law firms on what they can offer East Ridge.

The obvious move in tonight’s meeting would be to install Alex McVeigh as an interim. He is with Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel and has filled in for North numerous times. McVeigh is familiar with the current issues before the council, litigation in which the city is a party and knows the players. His firm has all relevant documents pertaining to East Ridge and a transition to a permanent City Attorney could be handled systematically and measured.

Another reason to move less hastily is the fact that Vice Mayor Larry Sewell will not be present at tonight’s meeting. Does this council have such little regard for the longest-serving member of the board that they don’t need his input (or vote) on who will be the City Attorney for the final two years of his term? 

And, what consideration, if any, is being given to the newly-sworn in council members Esther Helton and Brian Williams. It seemed important enough at the last council meeting that action on an extended stay motel ordinance should be deferred until the pair become more familiar with the issue. Is the hiring of a City Attorney no less important a matter?

I see a great deal of promise in these two new council members and rushing to install a new City Attorney could very well set the tone for the next four years for Helton and Williams. 

Mayor Lambert, apply the brakes just a bit. Show some leadership. Have some regard for your Vice Mayor and the new board members.

We don’t need to start off 2017 with a car crash on the freeway. Nobody wants to see that.