New deal inked for city attorney

A new agreement has been reached for City Attorney Hugh Campbell to continue providing legal services to Mount Airy, and unlike what sometimes happens in a courtroom there were no objections.

Council members decided in a 5-0 vote during a meeting last Thursday to maintain the relationship with Campbell at an annual cost of $55,000, to be paid in monthly installments.

The updated agreement goes into effect with the start of the municipality’s next fiscal year on July 1 and will end on June 30, 2025.

“We are fortunate to have the services of Mr. Campbell,” City Manager Darren Lewis said before the vote by the Mount Airy Board of Commissioners.

Campbell has served as city attorney since 2002, which began through his affiliation at that time with the Gardner law firm that filled this role for decades.

Now associated with the firm of Campbell Law Group LLC, he has been operating under the same agreement for some time.

“This is the first time we revisited it since 2015,” the city attorney said at Thursday night’s meeting.

On that occasion nearly nine years ago, city officials then on board approved a new contract with Campbell calling for him to paid $4,167 per month by the city, a yearly figure of about $50,000.

This was accompanied by some degree of controversy, due to that sum representing a 66% pay raise for Campbell compared to what he had been receiving under a 2012 arrangement.

Reluctance concerning the large percentage increase prompted the city commissioners to table the matter when it first was proposed to them, and the final vote two weeks later in August 2015 was 4-1.

Campbell agreed Thursday night that this process can be “painful.”

Service draws praise

Yet no similar concerns emerged during the latest pay discussion for Campbell, whose responsibilities include communicating with the board, mayor and city manager about legal issues of concern to Mount Airy.

His scope of work includes policy and public safety law, drafting contracts and incentive agreements, land-use regulations, employer-employee relationships and more.

Among Campbell’s stated roles are participation in dispute resolution or settlement discussions, based on wording in the agreement.

It calls for Campbell to prepare for and attend all meetings and work sessions of the city council and other local boards as needed, in addition to regional and state meetings of concern to Mount Airy.

The agreement states that the city attorney, unlike private practice, is to be accessible to the city manager and board members “at all times,” because they are on call 24 hours a day.

Campbell’s level of service was praised by Mount Airy officials when the latest pact was approved.

“I will say it is great to have Mr. Campbell, that resource available to us,” Commissioner Chad Hutchens commented.

Hutchens explained that the city attorney responds expediently when issues needing his attention arise.

That praise was echoed by the city manager.

“Again, we appreciate everything you do for us,” Lewis told Campbell, seated beside him.