The city of Lansing has a new city attorney.
The city council confirmed Jim Smiertka Monday night. He replaces interim city attorney Joseph Abood. Abood came on board after the sudden departure earlier this year of City Attorney Janene McIntyre.
McIntyre’s unexplained departure and her $160,000 severance package raised questions about transparency at city hall.
Smiertka says he will work to address those concerns.
“I think it’s important to send a signal that going forward there won’t be these issues,” says Smiertka.
Smiertka previously served as Lansing’s city attorney for a decade, from 1994 to 2004.
He’s spent much of the past decade working with the group, Prima Civitas.
Smiertka starts his new job at city hall on Friday.
