Resident urges Trenton to consider independent counsel after personnel‑board lawsuit

Angie Markham told the council she had reviewed portions of a lawsuit filed against the city and its personnel board and urged reconsideration of hiring independent legal counsel if the city attorney’s actions were implicated. She cited an administrative‑law-judge report finding the plaintiff had a right to an appeal and describing potential deprivation of post‑deprivation due process.

Markham said the personnel board allegedly did not convene proceedings on the employee’s appeal and that the city attorney responded to the appeal by asserting the position was unclassified and not reviewable. “...the administrative law judge concluded that the plaintiff has a right to appeal to the personnel board,” she said, and recommended the council consider independent counsel because of a possible conflict of interest.

Council members said they could not discuss personnel details in open session but described why a special Sunday meeting was called: staff and the personnel board sought timely action after the litigation document circulated in the community and was posted online before the city received formal service. Council also noted that the city did not receive a paper service copy until the following Monday and that some procedural actions were prompted by that timing.

Mayor Perry and other members declined to discuss personnel‑level details publicly, saying disclosure could jeopardize the individual’s future employment. The council’s procedural response was to treat the matter as a personnel/legal issue and to continue handling counsel decisions and litigation strategy in executive/privileged settings.

What’s next: Council did not vote on retaining outside counsel in open session; any decision about independent counsel would be handled in closed session or future agenda items where legal strategy or conflict‑of‑interest determinations are appropriate.