Saline Council OKs Search For New Attorney

After searching for and hiring a new police chief, the city of Saline is now preparing to find a new attorney to provide general legal services.

City Manager Todd Campbell informed the City Council about the process and the time line for the search. The new law firm will begin representing the city early next year.

The city’s contract with Allan Grossman, who has been the city’s attorney for several years, will expire Dec. 31. Grossman, who was present when Campbell made his remarks, said he is not retiring.

Grossman got a six-month extension on his contract with the city under the 2012-13 city budget.

Under the time line in a memo from Campbell to the Council, the city will send out request for proposals to area law firms Tuesday, Aug. 21.

Conducting the search is a committee consisting of Campbell, department heads and Mayor Pro-Tem Dean Girbach. The search committee will then review all RFPs by Oct. 10 and recommend the top three to five firms to the Council by Oct. 15.

The top firms would make presentations to the Council on Nov. 17. Council would make its selection Nov. 19. This would allow for a 30-day transition for the new firm and what Campbell described as a “positive thing.”

“We do have a little bit of cushion, but November will be here before we know it,” Campbell said. “Kind of like the six months snuck up on us with the police chief search.”

The committee has looked at similar language that other communities had in their RFPs for legal services, Girbach said.

Mayor Gretchen Driskell acknowledged Grossman’s service to the city.

“We are very fortunate that Allan served the community for a very long time,” she said. “It’s going to be a tough transition.”