It is said teamwork makes the dream work. Not so much in Waukegan, as some members of the City Council want their own legal opinions.
Like chefs, too many attorneys can spoil a good thing, while certainly charging for their time handing out those legalisms. Only the uninitiated and those with a frail grasp of the big picture would add more lawyers to any governmental stew.
Yet, a bare 5-4 majority adopted a resolution at the Jan. 21 City Council meeting seeking “legislative legal counsel.” Behind the proposal, which first surfaced in early January at the council’s Government and Operations Committee, were 6th Ward Ald. Keith Turner and 4th Ward Ald. Victor Felix.
The aldermanic counsel would be in addition and separate from the city’s current corporation counsel, Chicago-based Elrod Friedman which represents municipalities and governmental districts across Illinois. Indeed, Stewart Weiss, who normally attends City Council meetings and represents the city on legal matters, also serves as assistant village attorney in the Cook County villages of Glencoe and Northbrook.
Besides Turner, who is running for mayor as an independent candidate, and Felix, others who voted in favor of having their own lawyer — and having taxpayers pick up the tab for her or him — were 2nd Ward Ald. Jose Guzman, 3rd Ward Ald. Juan Martinez and 7th Ward Ald. Michael Donnenwirth.
In addition to those opposed — 1st Ward Ald. Sylvia Sims Bolton, 5th Ward Ald. Edith Newsome and 8th Ward Ald. Lynn Florian — to hiring another attorney for the city was 9th Ward Ald. Thomas Hayes, himself a lawyer. He said he was stunned council members would even consider using taxpayer dollars for another legal expense.
“This is going to create turmoil and chaos within the City Council,” he pointed out at the Jan. 21 meeting, perhaps thinking about what’s been happening in far south suburban Dolton. “We might get conflicting opinions. We don’t know who we’re supposed to listen to; what advice we’re supposed to hear.”
Mayor Ann Taylor wisely vetoed the proposal last month. Her objections to the request were submitted at this week’s council session with alders expected to seek to overturn her veto at the Feb. 18 council session, which is being held on a Tuesday because of Presidents’ Day on Monday, Feb. 17.
In her veto message, the mayor noted no funds have been appropriated or budgeted for the expense. “There is no need for additional legal counsel since our corporation counsel works with all the aldermen,” she said.
Perhaps at a dig toward Turner, she added, “I have concerns about this being politically motivated.” It may be considering the primary elections will be Feb. 25, and the election for mayor, city clerk and treasurer in the consolidated April 1 election.
It also would be redundant and probably duplicate existing legal work assigned to the city’s law firm. Those supporting an aldermanic attorney, and Turner specifically, indicate corporation counsel opinions are “influenced” by the mayor’s office. They surely must know lawyers’ fees aren’t cheap, at minimum $300 an hour for municipal work.
To override Taylor’s veto, a two-thirds vote of the council — six members — will be needed, Weiss spelled out at this week’s meeting. This mayoral veto isn’t her first.
In 2023, Taylor vetoed City Council approval of a city salary ordinance which gave alders authority to approve the mayor’s choices for department heads. Taylor wanted to continue hiring department heads without council approval.
Back then, the council failed an override with a 7-2 vote. That left mayoral hiring OK without aldermanic input.
Another failure to override could be in the offing considering it will take six members for override and the measure for an “additional legislative legal counsel” was adopted by a 5-4 vote. Those five who want their own attorney need to persuade another alder to side with them.
“The corporation counsel does not work for me,” Taylor said, according to Steve Sadin’s Jan. 31 front-page News-Sun report. “They work for the city of Waukegan,” she added, noting City Council members hired the law firm.
