Fate, Texas Development News

City Council Moves to Open Session to Address Attorney Resignation and Secure Interim Representation

The City Council convened for a special meeting to address the resignation of their city attorney, Messer Ford. Initially, the meeting was scheduled for an executive session to discuss personnel matters related to the city attorney. However, Councilmember Hatley made a motion to hold the discussion in open session, which passed unanimously. The council discussed the circumstances surrounding the resignation, including the submission of written questions to the firm and their subsequent resignation. The primary focus then shifted to identifying and approving an interim city attorney to avoid a gap in representation. City Manager Michael Kovacs presented a list of potential firms and attorneys, and the council provided feedback on their preferences, generally favoring in-person representation over remote options and seeking firms with experience in larger, growing cities. The council ultimately authorized Mr. Kovacs to contact firms from the provided list and negotiate an interim agreement, not to exceed 45 days, with the goal of securing immediate legal representation.