At Tuesday’s Amarillo City Council meeting, a lengthy discussion centered on establishing formal rules for the council's engagement with outside legal counsel, particularly George Hyde of Hyde Kelley LLP. The firm was initially retained in July for a second opinion on the Sanctuary City for the Unborn ordinance and has since provided advice on public information requests, charter amendments, and other matters.
Mayor Cole Stanley revealed that the council initially allocated $95,000 for Hyde's services, later increasing the budget to $250,000 for outside legal counsel in the 2024-2025 fiscal year. To date, the city has spent just under $130,000 on Hyde’s services. Assistant City Manager and CFO Laura Storrs confirmed the legal department is understaffed, necessitating the reliance on external expertise.
Councilmember Les Simpson, who placed the issue on the agenda with Councilmember Don Tipps, expressed concerns about taxpayer money and the unconventional nature of the council hiring its own legal counsel. Tipps highlighted the importance of adhering to the city charter, which stipulates that requests for outside counsel should go through the City Manager.
Mayor Stanley defended the council's approach, noting the longstanding use of outside legal counsel by previous administrations and emphasizing the council's public accountability. He suggested protocols requiring councilmembers to consult the City Manager or City Attorney first and involve a second councilmember or the entire council in decisions to engage external legal services.
City Manager Grayson Path was tasked with drafting a formalized protocol to refine the process. The council agreed to review the draft before deciding on implementation.
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