The mayor’s concerns about decorum at Farmers Branch City Council meetings apparently have taken effect.
Amid a staid backdrop, the council focused on city business at the April 16 city council study session and meeting.
A new attorney, David Berman of Nicholas, Jackson, Dillard, Hager, and Smith LLP counseled the council, replacing long-time city attorney Peter Smith, who is also an equity partner with that company.
At the end of executive session where the council discussed terminating the legal services contract with that firm, the council voted unanimously to deny terminating the contract.
However, the council unanimously voted to approve solicit requests for proposals for legal services with the city.
After the votes, Berman addressed the city, saying he has been a partner in the law firm Nicholas Jackson since 1990 having been with the firm since he graduated from law school in the mid-1980s.
“I thank the council for not firing the law firm. I’ve seen the video from the April 2 meeting and study session. I’ve discussed the issues with the members of the council, who have expressed their concerns as well as with my partners, and there are only four of us. I did not, and given the circumstances could not, conduct any kind of an investigation but that would have been pointless. Simple fact is that members of the Farmers Branch City Council were upset and frustrated, and that’s all that matters,” he said.
“The City of Farmers Branch is a long-standing and highly valued client of the law firm, and on behalf of the firm, we apologize for the events and the circumstances that led to the April 2 study session. Be assured that we have made changes in terms of who will serve the city going forward. We renew our commitment to the city, and on a personal note, I’m really excited and proud to, hopefully, be the city attorney for the City of Farmers Branch now and for a long time into the future. You should expect to see me at future council meetings, staff conferences, operational events but not dunking booths. I’m going to say I’m allergic to water if I’m asked.”
In other city council actions:
The council unanimously approved goals and objectives for the city manager for the contract period December 2023 through December 2025.
The council voted 4-1, with Councilman Richard Jackson dissenting, to Ordinance 3852, which is an amendment to the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance establishing performance standards for home occupations.