Contributor Opinion By Christina Ginsberg: Important Steps On In-House City Attorney
Aug 4, 2008 10:03 - 1 Comment
Posted by: Brad Rourke
Department: Contributor Opinion,Opinion
Tags: by Christina Ginsberg, city council, mayor
Department: Contributor Opinion,Opinion
Tags: by Christina Ginsberg, city council, mayor
>The following contributor opinion is by Rockville Central friend Christina Ginsberg. The report to which she refers was prepared by Drew Powell:
On Monday, July 28, the Rockville City Council took an important step to bring the City’s attorney function in house. The City was contracting with the firm of Venable, LLC, a very large law firm with many clients including developers such as FRIT that operate within Rockville City limits. For example, in last year’s discussions regarding the COPT property that borders King Farm, Venable attorneys represented the City of Rockville, while other Venable attorneys represented the property owners. As agents of the City, Venable attorneys wrote the GDA (general development agreement) for Rockville Town Center, that governed Rockville’s development with the property owners FRIT and RDI.
I’m glad to say that the City Council voted 5-0 to discontinue its service contract with Venable.
The Gazette reported on Council’s vote in this Wednesday’s issue, as did the Sentinel (their article is not on line). I also urge you to read the original attached data presentation [prepared by Drew Powell].
Making this change over will take a bit of time to enact. The next steps in this process will be to decide to whom the City Attorney will report. In virtually all cities of our size and complexity, the city attorney reports directly to the mayor and council as a check of independence and as a condition of accountability. The City Attorney is vitally involved in many City issues such as the lawsuit over the Town Center paving debacle that is unfolding now in court.
Please keep this issue on your minds – I’m sure it will be discussed this fall.
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>City Manager Scott Ullery has passed along this comment in response:
The Mayor and Council has given no indication that they are interested in changing the reporting relationship of the City Attorney.
The City Attorney is appointed by and reports directly to the Mayor and Council, and I don’t expect that to change with the appointment of a new City Attorney and adoption of the “in house” legal department.
Thanks Scott!