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Budget Committee Meeting <br />August 24, 1999 <br />Page 2 <br />primarily attorney fees for various cases and law suits against the city <br />along with the annexation's legal expense. Mr. Anderson said most of <br />the time, outside suits are handled by an outside attorney. City <br />Manager Malone explained that there would be some expenses that <br />would be covered through the Texas Municipal League, and then there <br />are suits that are not covered. The City is self - insured, and the City <br />Attorney handles all the routine matters for the City of Paris, <br />prosecution, preparation of ordinances and resolutions, and it would <br />be a very poor choice to allow the City Attorney to represent the City <br />in all the law suits because he would not have the time or staff to be <br />able to do that. <br />Councilman McWaters pointed out that the City Charter states that he <br />is to represent the City in all legal matters. <br />City Manager Malone said that is true, but the City Attorney selects <br />attorneys to represent the City in those situations. City Manager <br />Malone said it is like Earl Smith, he can not do all the engineering for <br />the City of Paris. The City Manager said the City Council could set a <br />policy and say that the City Attorney would represent the City in all <br />matters. <br />Councilman McWaters questioned the amount of the attorneys fees <br />that were created by the annexation. Mr. Anderson said he would have <br />to pull out the vouchers to verify that. Mr. Anderson also pointed out <br />that the agreed settlement of City Attorney Haynes is charged against <br />this line item of the City Council, which is approximately $70,000.00. <br />City Manager Malone said under Miscellaneous there are things such <br />as retirement gifts for employees, flowers and book memorials, <br />consultant fees for the Personnel Consultant Melba Harris, the City <br />Awards Program each year, and things of that nature. Mr. Anderson <br />also said the City had been approached by Local Insurance Agents <br />about providing the City's insurance, and in order to give the <br />appearance of fairness that everyone was treated equally, the City <br />Council voted to hire a consultant to prepare specifications and handle <br />the total process, and that fee is included in the miscellaneous <br />