The Arvin City Council is currently sifting through applications for its next city attorney. Arvin’s top lawyer, Interim City Attorney Nathan Hodges, was terminated last Tuesday after a Grand Jury report accused him of over-billing the city to the tune of $400,000 a year.
The vote to terminate was 3-1. Councilmember Donny Horton voted against it.
“The reason I voted not to terminate the attorney's contract was because I thought we should wait until we hired a firm full-time so there would be no chance for the city to be unrepresented,” he told 23ABC. “As of last night, we only have 30 days to overlook the proposals and agree as a council to hire a full-time firm."
Hodges’ position, which began 2021, was always meant to be temporary. The Grand Jury report (available here) recommended that the city move to hire a permanent city attorney. There are currently six applicants for the job.
Hodges has defended himself against the Grand Jury’s findings. He says he has always been transparent in his billing practices, and that the cost of his services is lower than what his contract allows.