City Council to mull over legal matters in anticipated lengthy executive session

The City Council will meet in executive session on Tuesday to consult with its legal counsel regarding a challenge to the city’s annexation which became effective last month, whether to settle with a former city manager who has filed suit against the city and to discuss the status of the Legacy Settlement.

In all three instances, the Council will be seeking advice on how best to avoid further litigation against the city, a city document states.

First, Ricardo Villa, William Donka and David Reed have accused the city of coming up short on the required number of signatures to force the annexation of a less-populated, more rural area adjacent to the city and abutting with Goodyear.

In addition, the deadline is approaching for the city to respond to a suit brought by former City Manager Rick Buss claiming “defamatory public disclosure” of the existence of an investigation into his affairs while employed with the city, which was being handled by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

Buss said when the city released the information to a competing local news source, it “engaged in intentional, illegal acts that have caused him to suffer severe economic injury,” his legal claim, dated March 10, states.

In the matter of the Legacy Settlement, in which the city recently agreed to numerous stipulations to avoid facing developer M.A. Maricopa, LLC in court, the parties appear to need further discussion to avoid additional legal challenges, based on information included in a city report.

The executive session, although it will take place during a public meeting, is not open to the public.

If you go:
What: City Council meeting
When: 5 p.m. work session, 7 p.m. regular meeting
Where: Global Water Resources, 22590 N. Powers Parkway
Information: (520) 569-9098