Council wants new attorney bids

Mayor Mary Ann Obregon cast the tie-breaking vote by the Dilley City Council Tuesday, June 13, to begin the process of seeking proposals by attorneys hoping to advise the municipal government.

Molly Solis has served as the city attorney since she was hired by the council in April 2020.

Last week’s decision came after debate in which councilors contended they were not being given a chance to speak and, in one case, that the attorney was disregarding elected officials.

Solis, however, said that she does not disregard councilors’ concerns or comments but reserves the right to disagree with them.

Councilors moved towards a vote on seeking bids for attorney services after a failed motion by Alexandria Inocencio that the discussion be tabled until a later date.

Councilor Inelda Rodriguez was not present at the June 13 meeting. Councilor Alicia Machado supported the motion, but Councilors Rudy Alvarez and Ray Aranda voted against further delay, prompting the mayor to cast the first of her tie-breaking votes of the night. The mayor sided with Alvarez and Aranda.

Councilor Alvarez was then supported by Aranda in a motion that the city seek proposals for legal counsel.

“After several years of being your attorney, I feel like I should be able to address before you all before you vote,” Solis said. “I am not sure what is going on. I know this happens every time there is a significant change in council. But I make all meetings and if I cannot, I make sure there are prior arrangements so that it is covered.

“If there are concerns, I address it;” the city attorney added in defense of her service to Dilley. “If there are billing questions, I address it.”

Atty. Solis reminded the council that she also provides a truancy intervention service for the city and trains teachers at the beginning of every academic year in how to address absences.

Solis acknowledged that her firm, Davidson, Trolio, Ream & Garza PC, has increased its rates during the years she has served Dilley but that the city has not been affected by a price hike, having contracted her at a fixed rate.

“I am happy to let you go out for services,” the attorney said. “Then we [the law firm] can decide if we want to rebid. You have a contract bid that locked in your rates because our rates have gone up, but yours was not raised.”

The council is able to terminate its agreement with legal counsel at any time with 30 days’ notice.

“I would like to know if there is a reason for it, so I can address it,” Solis said of any doubts the council may have over retaining her services. “I take pride in representing Dilley. I understand you want to go out for competitive bids, but if there is an issue, I would like to address it.”

Councilor Alvarez indicated he believes there is frustration with the service that Solis has provided.

“You tended to ignore certain members of the council,” the councilor said. “I have noticed some errors made, where you should have stepped in and not allowed us to make decisions. Last month, we were about to approve work done that was over fifty thousand dollars.”

“There was no legal reason you could not have voted on that and I do not disregard you, Sir,” the attorney said. “I respectfully disagree with you. As your legal counsel, I provide my legal recommendation, and you do not have to follow it. I know that we disagree often, but I am still going to provide you the legal advice.

“I know you may not want to hear the legal advice, but I am not going to sugarcoat it because it is not what you want to hear,” Atty. Solis added. “That is not what is best for the city. I work for the city of Dilley, not for one person. I work for the city as whole.”

Councilor Inocencio asked to make a comment after the exchange between Solis and Alvarez but was silenced by the mayor.

“I am not going to,” Mayor Obregon said. “He said enough.”

“And that just says a lot about our character,” the councilwoman said. “Like when I had an item on the agenda and you requested it be tabled just so all members of the council could be present and make a rightful choice. That should also be the same thing here.”

Mayor Obregon’s second tie-breaking vote supported Councilor Alvarez’ motion that the city begin taking attorney bids.

Atty. Solis has not indicated whether her firm will file a new proposal to provide legal services to the municipal government.