Council Oks bonus for city attorney

By By Thomas Tingle
Record Managing Editor
Since becoming Madison's full-time city attorney a year ago, Anne-Marie Lacy said she's done everything in her power to save the city money.
During the past year since she took office, it was announced that Lacy has saved the city more than $97,797 in legal fees. Those savings prompted the Madison City Council to unanimously approve a $1,000 bonus for those efforts.
"I want to thank the city council for giving me this opportunity to serve during the past year," Lacy said. "I will do my best again to save money like we've been fortunate to have done during the past year."
City Councilman Ray Stubblefield said prior to Lacy's appointment, the city had spent more than $290,000 in legal services in 2000. It was the last year Madison contracted for a city attorney.
Of that amount, $165,130 was paid to Lanier, Ford, Shaver &Payne while the firm's Woody Sanderson served as the city's attorney.
Stubblefield said the city budgeted $192,333 for legal services this year and it is unlikely that all of that amount will be spent.
"This type of bonus is not limited to one individual once a year," Stubblefield said. "In this particular situation with Anne-Marie, she saved the city a substantial amount of money and she is being rewarded for that. This award is oriented to those who save the city money."
"The $1,000 that will be given to Anne-Marie is coming from the money she saved the city," Stubblefield said. "By law, there is a $1,000 limit in the amount of money that can be awarded and I welcome anyone from within the city to recommend giving out this award again."