CRESTVIEW — City attorney Jerry Miller will continue to represent Crestview's interests — for at least another week. Maybe.
With Miller leaving the Pleat, Perry and Ritchie law firm to go into private practice as of June 30, the City Council voted 2-3 not to reassign the city's contract with PPR to his new practice.
Under its contract, which by its vote the council did not terminate, Pleat, Perry and Ritchie will still provide representation for Crestview. That could include contracting with Miller to continue serving as the city’s attorney, City Clerk Betsy Roy said.
“Now the ball is in Pleat and Perry’s court,” Roy said.
Councilmen Joe Blocker, Mickey Rytman and JB Whitten cast the "nay" votes.
Rytman proposed using the situation as an opportunity to put city attorney services out for bid.
Blocker has in the past been a vocal critic of PPR's monthly bills, calling for more detailed statements and demanding council approval of them, a request Miller said he was agreeable to.
Whitten questioned charges for copies of legal documents. For example, he said, a review of invoices submitted to Roy included one photocopy on Feb. 22 billed at $696.75.
Miller said he does not handle PPR billing and was not aware of the charges. However, as a private practice attorney, he will be doing his own billing and would scrutinize his invoices.
Whitten also reviewed average annual billing under the last three years respectively of Miller and his predecessor, Ben Holley's, tenures.
While Holley's average billing was $29,343 per year, Miller's firm charged an average of $78,615, but Whitten said the increase could be because Miller had to defend the city against several suits.
Councilman Bill Cox defended Miller's record of service, and said if he is terminated, the city might not be able to find a less expensive lawyer.
"Mr. Miller is among the finest of city and municipal attorneys in this state and probably this country," Cox said.
Miller said if the city chooses to put the city attorney contract out for bid, the council "should exercise its right of termination" because no "ethical attorney" would bid while another attorney still holds the position.
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview City Council votes against reassigning attorney's contract