Council votes limited waiver of attorney-client privilege for ethics correspondence

Following a closed session on Jan. 5 the Berkley City Council voted to waive attorney-client privilege for a limited purpose: correspondence dated Dec. 10, 2025 and supplemental correspondence dated Dec. 29, 2025 from special counsel Angela Mannarino related to an ethics complaint.

Council member Allrod moved to waive privilege only as to the two specified documents so the correspondence can serve as the advisory opinion required by city code section 2-40(f)(1). "The requested waiver is for the limited purpose of allowing the correspondence and supplemental correspondence to serve as the formal advisory opinion required by city code of ordinance section 2-40(f)(1)," Allrod said during discussion. The motion was seconded by Council member Patterson and passed on roll call.

No public comment was made on the agenda item at the meeting. The council did not read the substance of the documents into the public record during the session; the waiver permits the specific correspondence to be disclosed as the advisory opinion per city code.