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Council won't pay mayor's legal fees

By Codell Rodriguez, The Southern

Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:51 AM CDT

JOHNSTON CITY - The Johnston City Council this week decided not to pay Mayor Richard Carter's legal fees.

Aldermen Ryan Horn, Bart Lind and Lenda Raines voted against paying the bill at Tuesday's meeting. Jim Mitchell, Bonnie Morneweg and Harry Hancock voted in favor of paying the bills. Robert DuClos abstained from voting.

Because the vote came to an impasse, the council voted to pay all the July bills but the attorney fees.

Horn said the incident that prompted the matter took place in May during executive, or closed, session. Carter said he was excluded and felt the council was going to bring formal charges against him.

DuClos said the legal fees were unnecessary because no charges were filed.

Citing the closed-door session, the aldermen declined to go into detail.

City Attorney Steve Green said he advised Carter that if he wanted counsel, he should seek it from another lawyer, because the city attorney must look out for the mayor and the council and would have a conflict of interest.

Carter said he would file suit in small claims court to pay for the fees.

codell.rodriguez@thesouthern.com  

351-5804