In an era where remote work has become a normal part of everyday life, what is it worth to have a local presence?
That is the question the Town of Highlands is trying to answer as the board of commissioners goes through the process of hiring a new town attorney.
The COVID-19 pandemic changed our society forever, and one of those changes was the boom of online applications making collaboration possible from any location. With millions of Americans working from home, we all got comfortable meeting via Zoom, Google Meet, etc.
As the pandemic has eased, and many workers have gone back to their respective offices, face-to-face interactions have regained their necessity.
So just how “local” should the town attorney be in Highlands’ case?
During Friday’s specially called board meeting, the commissioners decided that the town should be represented by a single person, no matter the size of the law firm they may be affiliated with. And that person should come to Highlands for a formal interview once the hiring process reaches that stage.
The board also made it clear that the chosen attorney needs to be at the monthly commissioners and zoning board meetings in-person.
It would be easy to fall in love with the idea of hiring a powerful or prestigious law firm from Raleigh or Charlotte that specializes in local government law and simply meet with them online when necessary. Having a big-name firm support the town would be a welcome addition on multiple fronts, especially as the town begins to weed through litigation related to the short-term rental ordinance that was passed last year.
But the town already has Poyner Spruill, which has offices in Raleigh and Charlotte, representing the town in all STR matters. So it makes sense to hire a town attorney closer to home.
As mayor Patrick Taylor and commissioner Buz Dotson pointed out during Friday’s meeting, Highlands is a unique place with unique assets and unique challenges. Having an attorney who is willing to be present, at least two times each month, is imperative.