By Ken Krall, WXPR News

A memo written by Rhinelander City Attorney Carrie Miljevich warns city leaders not to hire an outside legal firm until her contract ends later this month.

A common council meeting this week was called to fund the hiring of a law firm to help with a investigation into reported problems within city government. When a quorum was not met, the meeting was canceled.

Miljevich says the law firm Von Briesen & Roeper have previously been contracted for other city business, but the common council has not approved the funding of their services for the current investigation.

Mayor Chris Frederickson wants an outside counsel to investigate various allegations within the city workforce.

Miljevich’s contract ends this month, and she says a Wisconsin League of Municipalities opinion says the city cannot employ two city counselors at the same time. She says after her employment ends, the city would be free to do as they wish, but in the interim, questioned the move.

A second investigator is also working with the city and she wondered where the contract is for that individual.

She wrote “State law is crystal clear that the Mayor cannot employ special council on his own – it must be done by Common Council.”