Council to interview counsel

While the Town of Saratoga will start the year with someone in the mayor’s seat, the Saratoga Town Council is also moving forward with replacing both their legal counsel and their town clerk. Both topics were discussed during the January 5 meeting of the governing body.

Legal Proposals

As was reported previously (see “New year, new everything” on page 2 of the January 6 Saratoga Sun), following a publication of Request for Proposals (RFPs) the Town of Saratoga had received five letters of interest according to then Mayor Pro-Tem Bob Keel on January 4. By the time of the council meeting, one more letter had been received.

“We did receive six responses to our request for proposals. I think we’ve all had a chance to look through them,” said Councilmember Jon Nelson. “What seemed to work well the last time I went through a process similar to this was to shortlist.”

Nelson currently serves as the council representative on the Saratoga-Carbon County Impact Joint Powers Board (SCCIJPB). As was reported previously (see “Water, sewer board engages with attorney” on page 12 of the June 17, 2020 Saratoga Sun), the SCCIJPB had interviewed four legal firms prior to eventually engaging with Corthell and King of Laramie, Wyoming.

“I don’t care if we do two or three or four or whatever but the point is to try to cut down on the number of interviews and, honestly, not waste the times of the firms who, maybe, we’re not all in favor of anyway,” Nelson said. “I think it’s important that we move fairly swiftly on this so we have some legal guidance on things.”

Keel was quick to note Nelson’s use of the word “we” and stated that the appointment of legal counsel would be the decision of newly appointed Mayor Creed James.

“I think ultimately he has the decision now,” said Keel. “He can take our advice all he wants.”

According to section 2.08.031 of the Saratoga Municipal Code, the appointment of town clerk, town treasurer, police chief, attorney and municipal judge shall be made by the mayor “with the consent of the governing body”.

Out of the six law firms that submitted letters of interest, the council created a short list of only three firms. Those three law firms were: Pence and MacMillan, which has offices in Cheyenne, Laramie and Sheridan; Cheyenne-based Sundahl, Powers, Kapp and Martin; and Cheyenne-based Overstreet, Homar and Kuker.

The council agreed to hold a workshop in which they would interview the three law firms on their list. That workshop is scheduled for 6 p.m. on January 18 at Saratoga Town Hall.

Clerk Position Advertised

As was previously reported (see “Cox resigns from Town of Saratoga” on page 5 of the December 9, 2020 Saratoga Sun), Suzie Cox, former town clerk for the Town of Saratoga, had submitted her resignation effective December 31 on December 1. 

The announcement of Cox’s resignation came during the same meeting in which Carbon County Attorney Ashley Mayfield-Davis had announced that her office would not be filing criminal charges related to the seizure of the Town’s hard drive in 2019 (see “No criminal charges related to town hard drive” on page 1 of the December 9, 2020 Saratoga Sun).

When reached via email on January 4, Keel stated that the Town of Saratoga had just recently begun advertising for the position of town clerk and had not received any responses at that time. During the January 5 meeting, discussion appeared to show that advertising had not yet begun for the position. The council voted unanimously to advertise for the position.

Following an hour long executive session, in which both Assistant Clerk/Treasurer Brenda Mistelske and Treasurer Sammy Flohr were asked to speak with the governing body, Nelson made a motion to formalize a contract with Cox at a rate of $50 per hour to assist the Saratoga Town Council and town hall staff.

The next meeting of the Saratoga Town Council will be at 7 p.m. on January 15 at Saratoga Town Hall.