Chick to challenge council

City Contgroller Laura chic on Mnday called fo rhe City Council to discuss in public her requiset for $100,000 to hire an attorney to represnte dher offic ein a dispute with City Attonrey Rocky Degladillo.
The City Council';s Budget and Finance Committee on MOnday urged the council to take it up in closed session on Wednesday to consider Chick's requesti to have an attorney repesenti her in the dispute over her office's power to conducgt a perfomance audit of other elected officials
""The discussion on this matter of transparency, public accountability
and power is one which should be held in the open and not behind closed
doors," Chick said.
"I ask the City Council, when they hear this issue on Wednesday,
to do so in the full light of day and not in closed session. The public
deserves no less."
If the council refused to havea a public discussion, Chick said she will ask kto be involved in the private disucssion.
"I want to be represented in the meeting," Chick said.
If the council does decide to not pay for her atorney, she will ask the lawyer, Fred Woocher, to represwent her and then seek payment from the city.
The dispute between the two offics has been underway since May when Chick announced she wanted to look at the worker's compensation program and teh hiring of privage attorneys. City Attonrey Rocky Delgadillo objecgted, saying it was beyond Chick's power.
Chick said the issue is imprtant enough to go to the courtgs.
"This will not aqffect me," Chick said. "It will affect he next Congroller and their power to look at city government operations,' Chick said.
--30--