JONESBORO — According to a budget amendment approved by the Jonesboro City Council, $225,000 has been budgeted to pay for legal fees on both sides of a legal dispute between Mayor Donya Sartor and the City Council.
The budget adjustment for the fees was one of the items on the budget amendment that was approved at a Nov. 13 City Council meeting. The budget agenda passed 5-1 with council members Alfred Dixon, Ed Wise, Bobby Lester, Tracey Messick, and Don Dixon voting in favor while Billy Powell was opposed.
According to Finance Director Nina Robinson, as of the Nov. 13 meeting, nearly $152,000 has already been paid in legal fees for both the mayor and council.
Sartor took the City Council to court to challenge the legality of an investigative report ordered by the council that delved into the conduct of the mayor. The report, which was completed in October, outlined several alleged wrongdoings by the mayor. A temporary restraining order and gag order were then put into place regarding the investigation.
During the Nov. 13 meeting, there was discussion on holding off paying the attorneys, possibly putting a cap on how much the city will pay, and questions over why the city would be obligated to pay for Sartor’s attorney when Sartor is suing the city.
City Attorney Winston Denmark — who is not representing either party in the lawsuit — told the council that the city is obligated to pay if invoices have been submitted.
“It’s like anything else,” Denmark said. “If I ask somebody to cut my yard and he’s cut the grass — I’ve got to pay the man. It just that simple. The city incurred the expense, and so it’s time to pay. I cannot think of any reason in law or morally that we would not pay an obligation we knowingly and voluntarily entered into.”
Powell asked why should the city pay for Sartor’s attorney.
Denmark said…
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