City hires full-time attorney
Mr. Billy Strickland II has joined the city as Henderson’s full time staff attorney.
His first job after law school was as law clerk for Judge John Tyson in the North Carolina Court of Appeals where he researched and assisted in writing court opinions. He is a graduate of Regent University School of Law in Virginia Beach, VA, and is a member of the North Carolina Bar. He holds an undergraduate degree from Campbell University with a Bachelor of Science in Government and concentrations in History and Environmental Science.
Until his employment with the city of Henderson, Mr. Strickland served as an attorney in the firm of Dees, Smith, Powell, Jarrett, Dees & Jones in Goldsboro, North Carolina, focusing on litigation, contracts, real estate, business law, and personal injury. Having an Honorable Discharge from the South Carolina Army National Guard, Mr. Strickland also was a member of the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, and often did Pro Bono work in the community.
On his upcoming employment as City Attorney, Mr. Strickland said, “My family and I are excited about the new opportunity, and I look forward to serving all the citizens in Henderson to the best of my ability.” He and his wife are the proud parents of three young boys. Mr. Strickland will be formally introduced at the City Council meeting on August 27, and will begin his duties at the City on October 1, 2007.
What will be Mr. Strickland’s annual salary?
Comment by Counting Crows — August 15, 2007 @ 1:39 pm
Welcome!
Comment by Ward I Voter — August 15, 2007 @ 3:27 pm
So, the city had hired a full time attorney. Why?? is the city doing so many things that are outside the law that they need a full time attorney??
It seems that they can’t afford to hire people to staff the departments that are important to our wellbeing.. But thank the high heavens we have a full time attorney.
Henderson, the armpit of America.
Comment by Wondering — August 15, 2007 @ 6:59 pm
I would rather have a full time attorney who can work on some of the tax and lien problems and clear up some of the funny business that has gone on a long time. At least the city of Henderson will have an attorney who is looking after just the city and not his other clients first. This is a smart move on the part of the city and the county should get an attorney who does not compete with other parties in the county too.
Comment by Best Use of Money — August 15, 2007 @ 7:24 pm
I would imagine that having an attorney on staff would be a much more controlable and predictable expense than having an attorney on retainer billing on an hourly basis open ended basis. It is a unlimited unaudited blank check that the attorney would write to himself with no oversight. It is usual and customary for attorneys to bill hours while sitting on the toilet “thinking” about the problems of their clients. I gues that I read John Grisham’s Novel, “The Firm” too closely.
When I think of the mega-dollars that the city has had to spend retaining an hourly attorney for sitting in meetings with Clarence Dale over the past 3 1/2 years, my personal piggy bank quivers in fear.
I have always wondered if the city paid for the Embassy Foundation legal expenses since Zollicofer was representing the land donators, Foundation, City all at once. Philosophically and personally, I have wondered how John Zollicoffer incorporates a company for Curtis White in February 2007 (See Satterhite List Letter to the Editor) and then opposes Curtis White when Curtis opposes city regulation of rental property. The Minimum Housing Standards and COO were part of the goals formulated at the city councilmembers planning retreat last year and it was predictable that these 2 interests would collide. Yet Zollicofer chose to accept work from both parties wihtin the same time period.
Even the Good Lord said that a man cannot serve two masters.
Comment by Purer Than Caesar's Wife — August 15, 2007 @ 8:14 pm
Wondering, please stop and think before you speak. The City will pay the new attorney less than Mr. Zollicoffer made. He comes here with an excellent reputation and background. I spoke with a friend in Goldsboro who knows Mr. Strickland well. His comment was, “You are extremely fortunate that you were able to hire him. He is an outstanding and energetic attorney and will be an asset to your city.” Now what else do you have to complain about?
Comment by Chairman of the Board — August 15, 2007 @ 8:15 pm
Purer Than Caesar’s Wife,
I get your point. I am going to be very disappointed if I see our city attorney hanging out all the time in WildFlower with the local attorneys for more than business lunches. He is the city resident’s champion in legal matters — not just a neutral gun for hire. I’d like to see him eating at some of the soul food and local Mexican restaurants as well for business lunches. Bojangles and Hardees for morning biscuits are not a bad idea either.
Comment by Social-Llite — August 15, 2007 @ 8:26 pm
Poor guy. He hasn’t even started work yet and folks already want to dictate who he hangs out with and where he dines! Welcome to Hen-a-sun Mr. Strickland. Rest assured, your future is all uphill.
Comment by Hen-a-sun Welcome Wagon — August 15, 2007 @ 9:16 pm
Pure,
You need to look a little closer before you get too excited about any potential cost savings for changing to a full-time staff attorney. I don’t believe the city has ever paid Mr. Zollicoffer more than the annual salary for the new attorney. Out of his pay I believe Mr. Zollicoffer had to provide his own office, computers/equipment, secretaries, disability insurance, retirement plan, and cover other office expenses. I assume our new city attorney will need a secretary along with office equipment, city insurance/disability/retirement, etc. in addition to his $86,000 salary. I am not saying having a staff attorney is a bad thing, but it does not appear to me that saving money will be one of the advantages.
Comment by Moneyman — August 16, 2007 @ 6:35 am
Social-Lite – don’t hold your breath. I’ll bet Wildflower will be his favorite spot, and he will be “in like Flint.”
Comment by Interesting — August 16, 2007 @ 6:36 am
According to the Dispatch this morning, Mr. Strickland’s annual salary will be $86,000.
Comment by MWS — August 16, 2007 @ 6:47 am
I hope that the city put a 2-5 year “non-compete” clause in Billy’s contract for joining a law firm that practices within the Tri-County area. He does need to be tempted to do the David Waters thing and sell out by joining one of the local law firms when the money looks better on the other side.
Comment by Bert — August 16, 2007 @ 8:41 am
Correction:
should read: “He does NOT need to be tempted ….”
Comment by Bert — August 16, 2007 @ 8:43 am
Poor guy. He hasn’t even started this new job and folks want to dictate who his friends may be, which restaurants he can visit, and restrict his “next” job.
Welcome to Hen-a-sun Mr. Strickland!
Comment by Hen-a-sun Welcome Wagon — August 16, 2007 @ 9:27 am
Hen-a-sun,
I think that it is appropriate for the public to have high integrity requirement for an attorney who is supposed to be OUR full-time champion especially in Henderson.,
You seem to forget that our local attorneys legally closed all those Donald Gupton mobile home deals that sent him to prison and the county to the poorhouse. You seem to forget we have all been betrayed by attorney Frank Ballance and his son the judge, Garry Ballance. I have never heard any of these lawyers admit wrong-doing and one of our local elected councilman even contributes to the Ballance defense fund.
Mr. Strickland should be very sensitive and cautious in choosing to “marry a scorned woman”.
Comment by Purer Than Caesar's Wife — August 16, 2007 @ 11:30 am
PTC Wife, According to the NC Bar Association website, Mr. Billy Joel Strickland II passed the bar exam in 2005.
As a new attorney, he must depend on fellow members of the NCBA for professional and developmental guidance and mentoring, so to assume that Mr. Strickland will exist in some type of city hall “air bubble” without socializing with other area attorneys is ridiculous.
His hardest job (assuming he is not a useless yes-man) will be to convince Yount, Harper and Moss that HE is the attorney and his word should be gospel in CITY LEGAL MATTERS.
I just hope he gets a fair chance, as expectations may be unreasonable due to his $86,000 salary.
Comment by Hen-a-sun Welcome Wagon — August 19, 2007 @ 10:50 am