Executive committee to publicly post special counsel role as legislative services manager

The Metro Council executive committee voted informally to proceed with an executive search for a publicly posted special counsel position framed as a legislative services division manager, the committee’s vice mayor said at the July 22 meeting.

"It is my intent to proceed in the search and to publicly post a position for special counsel and legislative services division manager," the vice mayor said, announcing unanimous assent from members present. The posted description is drawn from language in the council’s contract and the Accenture operational study and will be finalized with Human Resources before advertising. Interim special counsel Brian Wilson confirmed HR has assigned an executive-search staff member to the effort and that salary and posting locations remain to be set.

Council members debated two structural options the consultant had recommended: keep special counsel as the director of the council office (status quo) or split legal/legislative duties from broader administrative oversight by creating a legislative-services manager under a separate administrative lead. Multiple members said the split would better define responsibilities and reduce workload on a single hire. "Defining the role of the special counsel is the same whether we're 40 or not 40," one council member said in support of posting a clearly scoped position.

Next steps listed by staff include finalizing job descriptions with HR, publicly posting the vacancy, conducting interviews, and returning to the council with finalists and a recommended contract or resolution to affirm any hire. The committee noted the timeline remains dependent on internal HR review and on the council’s pending legal context; members asked to be kept informed as the posting goes live.