The future of the City of Stuart’s legal representation is somewhat unknown following Monday night’s Council meeting.

The Council had approved changing from having Beverly Wild as City Attorney to hiring Nyemaster Goode, P.C. effective July 1st with a cost of $13,000 per fiscal year for general attorney fees with the exception of special projects. Included in the Council packet was an email sent from Dustin Miller of Nyemaster Goode on June 24th declining representation of the City at this time, stating that “it seems that the City Council needs to work together” on legal representation.

Council member Kristina Renslow, who works for Nyemaster Goode, stated at the meeting that she advised the firm to step back from the agreement after some City representatives had allegedly written to the firm concerning “ethical issues” from Renslow in her soliciting the firm to represent the City. She shared that the action was a “walking quorum,” which violates the state’s open meetings law. Renslow expressed her chief concern over legal fees to Wild amounting to $37,000 in the last six months.

Council member Bryan Belden motioned that all legal expenses for projects be incurred by that particular developer, which died for a lack of second. He also motioned that City Administrator Ashraf Ashour gather proposals from several area attorneys, including Wild, which also failed to pass. Ashour then suggested working with Wild over the next month to rework the City’s budget, determining general counsel from special project expenses.