North Las Vegas: City Council decides to keep city attorney on the staff

Diana Sahagun

Thursday, Oct. 21, 1999 | 10:57 a.m.

After weeks of discussion the North Las Vegas City Council has decided against hiring an outside lawyer to serve as city attorney.

The council voted 4-1 at Wednesday night's meeting to accept Councilwoman Stephanie Smith's recommendation to continue with the city's traditional practice of keeping the city attorney on the city staff. Councilman John Rhodes cast the dissenting vote.

Members of the city staff had studied the prospect of hiring an outside attorney for the position since June. Two interested parties replied: attorney Steve George and the local law firm of Kummer, Kaempher, Bonner and Renshaw.

Past city attorneys have reported directly to the city manager, but a change in the city charter that became effective Oct. 1 requires the city attorney report to the council.

Following the council's Oct. 5 meeting, Smith and City Manager Pat Importuna were designated to draft a proposed contract for a private law firm.

But Friday the law firm withdrew its name after the state attorney general's office issued an opinion that said the city charter would not allow a law firm to take the job.

Smith said the withdrawal of the law firm was an issue of semantics and that future city councils can still decide to hire outside legal help.

The main reason for deciding to resume the search for a city attorney, she said, was so the council could move forward in its responsibilities.

Former City Attorney Richard Maurer retired in September. Mark Zalaoras, a lawyer on the city staff, is acting as city attorney.

"We felt at this time council might not have been able to move forward if we contracted with an outside firm," Smith said. "There were pros and cons to privatization. It's good to have options."