City Attorney Submits Resignation Letter

Eagleville’s city attorney Travis Lampley has submitted a resignation letter, citing a conflict of interest because of his work with the District Attorney General’s office of Rutherford County.

Mayor Nolan Barham passed out a copy of Lampley’s letter to councilmen after their Saturday meeting, which was held to consider hiring a new city recorder. No discussion was held on the resignation letter at the meeting.

"My position as an attorney for the state of Tennessee has led me to the Office of the District Attorney General for Rutherford County," Lampley wrote. "As you are aware, this is the same office that would be involved in any official misconduct hearings against a city officer or employee."

Lampley said the rules of professional conduct would not permit him to work in two separate offices that could be adverse to one another.

"Accordingly, this conflict of interest requires me to step down as town attorney for the town of Eagleville," he wrote.

Lampley did not give an effective date for his resignation in his letter, which was dated Dec. 14. He did offer to assist with making recommendations for his replacement if the council requested him to do so.

Lampley was hired as city attorney at the Jan. 25, 2007, council meeting. He replaced Greg Reed, who had served as Eagleville’s city attorney for 12 years.

Lampley’s apparent last legal action for the city of Eagleville before his Dec. 14 resignation letter was an email to Councilman Greg Buchanan the night of Dec. 13 that outlined information he had put together concerning the city paying outgoing city recorder Michelle Bennett for accrued sick pay.

The city ordinance that details the personnel policy states that upon termination or resignation, any unused sick leave shall not be cashed in for compensation.

"Accordingly, if she was paid for unused sick leave this would have been in error," Lampley wrote.

Based on information that Lampley had gathered, it appears that Bennett was paid $1,945 for unused sick leave when she left the city job.

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