Report Prepared by: Kelly C. Fincher, Chief Deputy City Attorney
Title
SUBJECT: Consideration of Retention of Berliner Cohen, LLP for Interim City Attorney and Interim Legal Services
REPORT IN BRIEF
It is requested that the City Council authorize the retention of the law firm Berliner Cohen, LLP to provide Interim City Attorney Services, including the appointment of Jolie Houston as Interim City Attorney.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Approving an Agreement for Interim Legal Services for Interim City Attorney Services with Berliner Cohen, LLP, with Jolie Houston being appointed as the Interim City Attorney; and,
B. Authorizing the Finance Officer to make the appropriate budget adjustments.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff; or,
2. Provide direction on specific revisions to the Agreement; or,
3. Request additional information; or,
4. Continue the matter to a certain date; or,
5. Decline to take action.
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Sections 603 and 1105
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
N/A
DISCUSSION
The City Attorney's position is currently vacant and the City is in the process of filling that position by a recruitment conducted by the City's Support Services Department. It is anticipated that the recruitment process will take between four to six months to complete and that a new City Attorney will be in place within six months. In addition, the City Attorney's Office recently had a sudden departure of another attorney who served in the position of Senior Deputy City Attorney. The City has not commenced a recruitment to fill the Senior Deputy position and likely will not do so until a City Attorney is selected by the City Council and he or she begins his/her employment with the City.
There is currently only one attorney in the City Attorney's Office who is greatly supported by two very experienced support staff members; a paralegal and a legal secretary. However, due to the important role that the ...
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