Lawrence City Council July 15, 2026

The Lawrence City Council held a special meeting on July 15, 2026, primarily to discuss and vote on the appointment of William J. Maloney as the second assistant city attorney. The city attorney presented Mr. Maloney as a suitable candidate with municipal experience, emphasizing the need for additional legal support in the city attorney's office to handle essential but less glamorous legal tasks. Council members raised concerns about transparency in the hiring process and the handling of applications for city attorney positions, with one councilor expressing a no vote due to an email alleging unprofessionalism in the hiring process for the first assistant city attorney position. Despite this, the council voted to approve Mr. Maloney's appointment. The meeting also included discussions about the candidate's background, the scope of his duties, and assurances that he would report directly to the city attorney, maintaining proper separation of powers within city government.