City Council members sparred Tuesday over a "complete overhaul" of the four-member council staff after what some members said started with a pay increase suggestion.
Chairman Chip Henderson presented new staff job descriptions, including a post that would be filled by an attorney.
Questioned by other council members, he acknowledged that the current staffers would no longer have their jobs, though they may apply for the new posts.
Sandra Freeman is the clerk to the council, and Nicole Gwynn is deputy clerk. Cindy Patrick is support specialist. Randy Burns serves as management analyst. The city charter specifies that position and that of the clerk.
Ms. Patrick is leaving the office at the end of next week to take a position with another city department.
Chairman Henderson recommended an administrative support assistant secretarial position, a council support specialist, a clerk to the council and a legislative and management analyst.
He said the latter post would require a law degree. He said that individual would assist in drafting legislation and may also serve as interim clerk when necessary.
Pay levels would be $35,911 to $55,685 for the council support specialist, $45,833 to $71,070 for the clerk to the council, and $58,496 to $90,705 for the legislative and management analyst.
The staff would be under the city pay plan. Councilman Yusuf Hakeem said the council staff in the past had not been under the city plan so the office could be more autonomous.
The council agreed to wait a week until talking further about the plan, which was sharply contested by Council members Hakeem, Moses Freeman and Russell Gilbert.
City Attorney Wade Hinton said he did not object to the council having an attorney who would draft some ordinances, but he said any legal opinions should come from his office.
Councilman Gilbert said, "That's stupid. If the lawyer don't have no power, then you don't need a lawyer."
Councilman Freeman said he can foresee "a nightmare" where the council and its attorney are pitted against the city attorney and the mayor's office in disputes that may spill over to Chancery Court.
He said, "I know some lawyers who are not worth a nickel. They couldn't draft a piece of legislation. But they could con us into hiring them."
Councilman Freeman said if there are problems with certain current staff members, then they should be confronted "instead of going around the back door."
He said the discussion began "about giving pay raises to people who have done nothing but good work."
Councilman Ken Smith said the chairman should not be attacked for coming forward with the staff reorganization.
Councilwoman Carol Berz said the council had spent several long sessions on the staff issue and was getting delayed on making needed changes to the sign ordinance, the Beer Board, and other issues.