That the Government Operations/Rules and Claims Committee is requested to coordinate with relevant staff to hold a meeting to discuss the feasibility of adding a private attorney budget item to the City Council budget

City of Cambridge O-11 ORIGINAL ORDER IN CITY COUNCIL July 30, 2019 COUNCILLOR KELLEY VICE MAYOR DEVEREUX WHEREAS: In the course of executing their ongoing responsibilities, City Councillors often have questions that require specific and immediate legal expertise; and WHEREAS: The City Solicitor’s Office regularly provides guidance on a range of issues and across City departments, but is less able to provide individual representation or advice to Councillors on specific City Council matters, absent a formal City Council request for legal assistance, and may be limited in its ability to provide answers in as timely a fashion as City Councillors might want; and WHEREAS: A City Council budget item for City Councillors to seek direct legal advice from a pre- selected private attorney(ies), while providing all relevant questions and legal opinions through City Council communications, would provide additional options and a more custom and possibly more timely response to issues for which City Councillors want specific legal guidance; now therefore be it ORDERED: That the Government Operations/Rules and Claims Committee be and hereby is requested to coordinate with relevant staff to hold a meeting to discuss the feasibility of adding a private attorney budget item to the City Council budget. COUNCILLOR TOOMEY RECORDED IN THE NEGATIVE