Thursday, June 21, 2001
The attorney representing the mayor said he was pleased the matter was resolved outside the courtroom.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
CORTLAND -- The mayor has voluntarily dismissed a lawsuit she filed against city council.
Mayor Melissa Long said Wednesday that due to council's decision to approve her appointment of Atty. Patrick Wilson as law director she has agreed to dismiss the lawsuit she filed in February.
Council on Monday voted unanimously to hire Wilson, of Warren.
Long sued council in February in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court to force lawmakers to approve one of her appointments for law director.
Long said she is pleased that she doesn't have to pursue the lawsuit. She said the hiring of the law director means that the city administration and lawmakers are working together.
"I think this is a positive step for the city," Long said.
Atty. Marc Dann, who represented Long, said he is pleased the matter was resolved outside of the courtroom.
"We think that both sides benefited," Dann said. "We're happy with it. Everyone got what they wanted."
Background: The mayor filed the lawsuit after council rejected five of her choices for law director.
Under the city's charter, the mayor appoints the law director, but council must approve the choice.
In September, council voted to retain the law firm of Johnson & amp; Angelo of Cleveland for legal services. The law firm was hired to handle the city's legal work until a law director was appointed.
The mayor had objected to the hiring of the firm, saying she didn't feel it was necessary to hire an out-of-town firm.
Wilson, who will be paid $1,200 for 30 hours monthly, replaces Atty. Robert Platt of Cortland, who resigned last July.
Wilson, who works with the Warren law firm of Harrington, Hoppe and Mitchell, was sworn in moments after council approved the ordinance to hire him.