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Michael Massee new city attorney
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Nogales Deputy City Attorney Michael Massee is Benson's new city attorney. He was hired by Benson City Council Monday night.
For $5,000 a month, Massee, a Tucson resident, is expected to work at least 10 hours a week. If business exceeds 40 hours a month, Massee will be paid an additional $125 an hour.
Massee attended Monday's meeting, stating he had approval from Nogales City Attorney Joe Machado to apply for the Benson position.
"I am looking forward to working with all of you and vindicating the confidence you have already expressed in me," Massee said. "My priority will be to Benson."
Massee was one of 11 attorneys to submit proposals to the city, and was one of four interviewed. He informed the council that he is in the process of transitioning from public service to his own law firm.
He has served as a deputy attorney in Nogales for the last two years.
Massee will replace Thomas Benavidez of the Benavidez Law Group in Tucson. While Benavidez submitted a proposal to renew his contract, the hiring committee recommended hiring Massee. The measure passed 6-0.
Massee's monthly fee is $1,000 less than that submitted by Benavidez.
Councilman John Lodzinski, who was on the hiring committee, said Massee is a good fit for the city, noting that he is getting his own practice under way and has the experience Benson needs.
The proposal submitted by Massee states that in transitioning to a new practice he currently has no clients that would pose a potential conflict with the city.
Benson City Manager Glenn Nichols said Massee already seems interested in getting to work and is working to get to know the staff and city operations.
Massee, who will officially start May 11, will have plenty of work to do, as he saw Monday night when the council approved a controversial pre-annexation agreement in a 4-2 vote.
The city will be exercising its right of eminent domain to take over a 10-acre parcel owned by Matthew McDonald if a final annexation agreement is approved. San Pedro Partners LLC, a Tucson developer, has been working for two years to annex 43 acres of land north of the Benson into city limits. The property will join a 305-acre parcel that has already been annexed.
The 43-acre parcel surrounds McDonald's land. McDonald has said from the start he is against annexation. Monday night the council agreed in principle to force McDonald to go along with the annexation.
In a presentation to the council last week, Benavidez said he is confident that the transition from his firm will be smooth, and Massee should have no problems taking over.
Massee will also take over the multi-million dollar lawsuit filed against the city last year by Nazy Hirani, owner of the Butterfield Shopping Plaza in downtown Benson. Hirani contends that the city has caused irreparable damage to his reputation after condemning the shopping plaza last year.
While the condemnation has since been rescinded, Hirani has been required by the city to bring the building up to code.
Benavidez has said the city will fight the lawsuit rather than settle.
Besides Nogales, Massee has also served as a deputy attorney for Maricopa and Santa Cruz counties and in the 1990s was a Litigation Associate for Snell and Wilmer LLP and a judicial clerk for U.S. District Court Judge John M. Roll in Tucson.
Nogales Deputy City Attorney Michael Massee is Benson's new city attorney. He was hired by Benson City Council Monday night.
For $5,000 a month, Massee, a Tucson resident, is expected to work at least 10 hours a week. If business exceeds 40 hours a month, Massee will be paid an additional $125 an hour.
Massee attended Monday's meeting, stating he had approval from Nogales City Attorney Joe Machado to apply for the Benson position.
"I am looking forward to working with all of you and vindicating the confidence you have already expressed in me," Massee said. "My priority will be to Benson."
Massee was one of 11 attorneys to submit proposals to the city, and was one of four interviewed. He informed the council that he is in the process of transitioning from public service to his own law firm.
He has served as a deputy attorney in Nogales for the last two years.
Massee will replace Thomas Benavidez of the Benavidez Law Group in Tucson. While Benavidez submitted a proposal to renew his contract, the hiring committee recommended hiring Massee. The measure passed 6-0.
Massee's monthly fee is $1,000 less than that submitted by Benavidez.
Councilman John Lodzinski, who was on the hiring committee, said Massee is a good fit for the city, noting that he is getting his own practice under way and has the experience Benson needs.
The proposal submitted by Massee states that in transitioning to a new practice he currently has no clients that would pose a potential conflict with the city.
Benson City Manager Glenn Nichols said Massee already seems interested in getting to work and is working to get to know the staff and city operations.
Massee, who will officially start May 11, will have plenty of work to do, as he saw Monday night when the council approved a controversial pre-annexation agreement in a 4-2 vote.
The city will be exercising its right of eminent domain to take over a 10-acre parcel owned by Matthew McDonald if a final annexation agreement is approved. San Pedro Partners LLC, a Tucson developer, has been working for two years to annex 43 acres of land north of the Benson into city limits. The property will join a 305-acre parcel that has already been annexed.
The 43-acre parcel surrounds McDonald's land. McDonald has said from the start he is against annexation. Monday night the council agreed in principle to force McDonald to go along with the annexation.
In a presentation to the council last week, Benavidez said he is confident that the transition from his firm will be smooth, and Massee should have no problems taking over.
Massee will also take over the multi-million dollar lawsuit filed against the city last year by Nazy Hirani, owner of the Butterfield Shopping Plaza in downtown Benson. Hirani contends that the city has caused irreparable damage to his reputation after condemning the shopping plaza last year.
While the condemnation has since been rescinded, Hirani has been required by the city to bring the building up to code.
Benavidez has said the city will fight the lawsuit rather than settle.
Besides Nogales, Massee has also served as a deputy attorney for Maricopa and Santa Cruz counties and in the 1990s was a Litigation Associate for Snell and Wilmer LLP and a judicial clerk for U.S. District Court Judge John M. Roll in Tucson.
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