Minutes 10/14/1958 - Laserfiche WebLink

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183 October 14th, 1958. Municipal Court or in the Court of Hustings will not in any way be a violation of our Code of Ethics. As an at- torney there probably will be times.when civil causes of action will be brought to me which may be im con£1ict with the interests o£ the Bity. When"mnd i£ that situation occurs I shall be forced to decline representation o£ such a case. Although it is not .of interest to this controvensy I feel it incumbent that I inject this per - sonal comment. For several years prior to th~ pr~ry election in April, 1958, I had been representing the owner of s large meat-packing plant in Nansemond County. This plant, or at least s portion of the land on which the plant is located, is in the proposed ares for the expansion of the water resources facilities owned by our City. I realized as early as Feb~ruay and March of this year, even be£ore the primary election, that if I was elected to hold office on this Council that I might subseqnently be called npon ~o vote on an ordinance condemn- ing that client's proper~y to accomplish the expansion of the reservoir facilities. For that reason, I wrote to that client in Nansemond County and withdrew £rom any further representation of his interests. It may no~ be ma~ terial to some, but I had been representing that client £or approximately two years and considerable time and effort was expended in his behalf for which a reasonable legal £ee would have been proper. When I resi~ued from representing this gentleman's interest I also told him that there would be no charge for services rendered nor has there been any payment for those services. I am happy to say that he is now represented by very able coun- ~sel £nSu££olk, and unless he and those who .now represen~ the City's interest in the acquisition of that land can come to some agreement, it may, at some;future date,' be incumbent apon this Council to consider an ordinance to condemn the same. I£ this occurs, I shall abstain from participating in t he discussion as well as the voting on that ordinance, for I do not believe that I could abide by the 37th Canon of Legal Ethics if I-did otherwise. Mr. President, all of this commenn may .be some~vhat moot, for despite the request of the Planning Commission that this Council give~r. Sandie a vote of 'c~nfidence I do not believe the Council has that prerogative for the appointment of members to the Planning Commission rests solely'with the office of Mayor and any action tHa~ the remaining members of the Council ~a~e would be purely excess baggage. Since the discussion has gone thus far, ~owever, I believe that I m~y safely borrow a term from the diplomatic service and merely say that in view of the circumstances not surrounding Mr. Sandie he ~s to me 'mpersona noff grata'. If the Planning Commission wis~e~ a vote-of confidence on this gentleman, I shall he forced to cast a negative vote. Signed - William R. Breedlove, October l~th, 1955." On motion adjourned. City Clerk Approved - President.