Stewart, Melvin & Frost named Hall County Attorney again

GAINESVILLE - The firm that lost the job as Hall County Attorney in January - Stewart, Melvin & Frost - was picked by the county commission Thursday night to again fill the position.

The Gainesville firm's general legal counsel contract rates are $150/hour for a partner, $125/hour for an associate, and $95/hour for a paralegal. That compares to up to $395/hour for a partner by the Atlanta firm that was hired as Interim County Attorney in January, Holland & Knight. The contract does not include bond disclosure counsel, which the Commission will seek separately.

Seven firms applied for the position and the applications were reviewed by the Commissioners, the Interim County Administrator, Interim Finance Director, Public Works & Utilities Director, and Planning & Zoning Director.

County officials say Stewart, Melvin & Frost was selected based on "firm experience and workload, personnel experience, references, proximity to Hall County offices, the proposal structure and content, and pricing."

The firm served as County Attorney from 1992 until January when it and along with County Administrator Charley Nix, Assistant County Administrator Phil Sutton and County Finance Director Michaela Thompson were fired by a 3-2 vote. The firings were engineered at the first meeting of the new year by Commissioner Ashley Bell and two newcomers to the Commission, Scott Gibbs and Craig Lutz, with Commission Chairman Tom Oliver and Commissioner Billy Powell opposed to the action.

The vote to again retain Stewart, Melvin & Frost was 4-1, with Lutz casting the only "no" vote.

OTHER BUSINESS

The board held a public hearing and first reading on a request for a Business/Alcohol Beverage license for Sky City Jazz Lounge banquet and dance hall on Athens Street. Bell had expressed strong reservations about a bring-your-own-bottle proposal from the applicants at the commission work session on Monday. He was also concerned about the parking and lighting.

Following an impact fee presentation by Planning Director Randy Knighton and a public hearing, the Commission okayed deferral of impact fee collection until a building is issued a certificate of occupancy, effective June 1. The vote was 3-2 with Lutz and Gibbs opposed. The move is seen by proponents as one way of trying to jump-start the recession-caused slump in construction.

The Board also voted down a motion to release the City of Flowery Branch from its obligation to collect impact fees, as requested by the City Council. The vote was was 3-2 with Powell, Bell and Oliver casting the deciding votes.

At the invitation of Commissioner Scott Gibbs, resident Douglas Aiken expressed his opposition to use of taxpayer funds for Commissioners attending the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) annual meeting in Savannah, excepting those commissioners receiving certification training. Commissioners Billy Powell and Ashley Bell responded that they were paying their own expenses.