Updated at 12:21 PM
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Portland Charter Commission debates need to hire an independent legal adviser
Some commissioners opposed the city s office of Corporation Counsel appointment of Jim Katsiaficas as the commission s attorney.
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Some members of the Portland Charter Commission believe they should be allowed to hire their own legal counsel as well as a secretary to take notes during the 12-member board’s year of deliberations.
Commissioners spent most of Thursday’s organizational meeting, which lasted more than three hours, on adopting rules of procedure, setting future meeting dates and debating the need for outside counsel. Attorney Jim Katsiaficas was appointed by the city’s office of Corporation Counsel to serve as the commission’s legal adviser, a move that chafed some commissioners.