Ellisville's City Council will meet for the second time this week Wednesday night, and for the second time in as many meetings, could address who will be in the business of providing legal counsel, this time on a more permanent basis.
The city relieved City Attorney Paul Martin of his responsibilities earlier this month following a judge's ruling reinstating Adam Paul as Mayor. Monday night, council appointed Pat Willimon, a Ballwin attorney, to fill in on a provisional basis.
Paul and his allies believe Martin helped orchestrate events leading up to the impeachment, while Martin has maintained he was doing his job to the best of his "ability, under trying circumstances."
Ellisville City Councilman Matt Pirrello maintains that it was unethical for Paul to have voted to fire Martin and dismiss special counsel John Maupin, who represented the city in the legal matters against Paul regarding impeachment, because Paul had a financial interest in getting rid of them.
Now, among the firms vying for the job to take over as the city's legal counsel is the one which defended Adam Paul in court, Chet Pleban's firm of Pleban & Petruska.
"They're in such a hurry to undo everything," Pirrello said. "I live in Bizarro-ville. It's not Ellisville anymore."
Reached Tuesday, Paul claimed he had no conflict of interest in voting to terminate Martin, said Maupin was hired illegally by the previous council and that the city's agreement with Maupin did not allow him to file legal appeals as he did when he filed a motion to address the stay of impeachment Paul won in St. Louis County Circuit Court in June.
And as for the prospect of his own civil attorney's firm winning the right represent his city? Speaking for himself, Paul said he was surprised to see Pleban's firm apply, but said "I would hire Chet (Pleban) in a heartbeat."
Paul said the council could choose permanent counsel Wednesday night or set up interviews with firms, which could include the man filling the job on a temporary basis in Pat Willimon. Willimon has represented Councilman Gary Voss in legal matters in recent years but said he wasn't aware of anything that would pose a conflict of interest. He acknowledged that it only takes one person to believe there could be an appearance of a conflict and said he would recuse himself so as not to taint the process.
"What I'm hopeful is that the city gets the person they want," Willimon said.
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