DOES LAGRANGE CITY COUNCIL HAVE A COUNSEL?

On Monday evening a discussion over the city attorney position erupted into a shouting match and ended with five members of the LaGrange City Council walking out, thereby leaving Mayor Elsie Carter without a quorum.

At the September 2008 meeting of the City Council Graham Whatley was appointed city attorney by Mayor Carter. The approval of the appointment by the City Council was conditioned with the caveat that Whatley withdraw from a lawsuit involving Property Valuation Administrator Ron Winters and one of his former employees. At the October 2008 meeting the City Council voted to rescind the appointment because Whatley had not been allowed to withdraw from the lawsuit.

Subsequent to the October meeting Mayor Carter had Whatley handling city business. I received a letter from Whatley in which he stated that he was the appointed city attorney. At tonight's meeting Mayor Carter alleged that the action taken by the council to rescind Whatley's appointment was invalid; therefore, she had sworn him in as the city attorney today. Council member Jason Taylor tried to speak but Mayor Carter refused to allow him to speak and stated that he was out of order. When Taylor continued to try to speak Mayor Carter ordered a city policeman to remove him from the room. Taylor stated that he would leave without being escorted. As he left four other members left with him. As councilwoman Lucy Ricletts was absent that left only two council members and the Mayor. The meeting was then adjourned by the Mayor without a motion. Mayor Carter was seen being escorted from the building by a LaGrange city police sargeant.

Whether the City of LaGrange has a city attorney or not will likely be decided in court. It is very doubtful that the issue has been resolved by Mayor Carter's supposed appointment.

Is this the "redneck" method of handling your opposition, i.e. have them escorted out of the meeting? Or, is this the new method of assuring that all of those present vote with you?

Mayor Carter surely needs an attorney but it must be an attorney who satisfies the majority of the council. If this were the County Judge Murner wanting a particular person for a position there would be no problem as the members of the court have always approved whatever the judge asks for with very little questioning. Seems like the LaGrange City Council has more mettle than does the Oldham County Fiscal Court. I would urge the Magistrates to exercise a little more control over the County Judge Murner. Although he would be very upset if they did not give him what he wants, I don't believe that he would try to have one of them removed. If he were to do that, I suspect that he would find himself in another kind of court.

Oh well, this is just wishful thinking on my part - this Fiscal Court would never demonstrate any hint of independence - that just might appear to be "redneck" even though it might also be effective.