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Reynolds hired
as town attorney
By LOU HATTER
Rappahannock News Staff Writer
The Washington Town Council voted last Thursday to retain Frank Reynolds as its counsel.
In an abbreviated special session called to consider the matter of a paid attorney - a first for the town - the council also decided to conduct its deliberations in public, rather than executive, session.
Because the matter being considered involved personnel, the council could have, under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, discussed the matter in executive session. The four council members present (Mayor Dean Morehouse, Brad Fisher, Nan Thomasson and Evelyn Willis) voted unanimously to conduct the deliberations in open session.
Mr. Reynolds suggested that because, in addition to the council, he would also supply legal expertise to the town’s Board of Zoning Appeals, the Planning Commission, and the Architectural Review Board, “you can’t afford the luxury of an attorney sitting in on meetings.”
Mr. Reynolds said that one way to handle the situation would be to continue any matters requiring his legal advice until he could deliver an opinion. “This may mean that you need to schedule additional special meetings...”
He added, however, that “this procedure will save money in the long run. To sit in meeting two to three hours several times a month - you might maybe use my advice five minutes. . . .It makes the attorney feel better, not feeling pressure to answer off the top of his head. Most times I would need to research the question anyway.”
The council members agreed with Mr. Reynolds’ suggestion, and also his request that a “central authority” be named to approve requests for legal advice from the various boards.
Mayor Morehouse said that the council had an “informal policy with Doug (Baumgardner, who preceded Mr. Reynolds as town attorney)” that “substantive” questions were posed in writing.
Mr. Reynolds replied that “every board will have questions. A central authority will cut down on suprise bills.” He added that “(legally) the BZA is different - you have no power over the BZA. It acts independently.”
Mrs. Willis said that “The head of each board should deal with the attorney. Just get a note from Dean and cut out the middleman.”
The other council members agreed that the mayor should authorize use of Mr. Reynolds for legal advice. After consenting to Mr. Reynolds’ proposed fee of $75 per hour, the council unanimously approved a resolution designating him as town attorney.
The council also approved a resolution naming John McCarthy, the county’s zoning administrator, “as its Agent for the administration of the Town of Washington Subdivision Ordinance, and as its administrator for the Zoning Ordinance for the town of Washington...”
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