By Naomi Hatch Sims Murray, LTD, a Phoenix area law firm, and Springerville Town Attorney Shawn Taylor were selected last week to serve as Taylor’s town attorneys. They replace Shawn Lautz, whose resignation was accepted in January. At the January meeting, a committee made up of Town Manager Gus Lundberg, Vice Mayor Shawn Palmer and Councilman Carl Cosper was organized to interview applicants for the position. After interviewing the applicants, the committee recommended legal services be provided by Sims Murray. The contract will use Bill Simms, a well known attorney who provides services through the municipal risk pool, on an as needed basis. The council approved the agreement for legal services with Sims Murray, with Councilman Gary Solomon abstaining from the vote. Since Sims is located in the Valley, the committee recommended using a local attorney for municipal court business. Shawn Taylor is the attorney for Springerville, and when the previous attorney was hired, the committee was impressed with him. A motion to approve an agreement for municipal court prosecutions services with Taylor passed unanimously. In other business the council had the second reading of Ordinance 02016-01 adopting the 2012-2014 amendments to the Tax Code of the Town of Taylor. Lundberg explained that the amendment will give unity to the 96 cities and towns in the State of Arizona. He went on to explain that a committee goes over amendments that include conformity with new legislation in the state. A motion to adopt the 2012-2014 amendments to the tax code of the town of Taylor passed with a 5-1 vote with Councilor Jason Brubaker opposing. Brubaker said, “The changes to me were not a problem, but the whole tax code is a problem.” Mayor Fay Hatch noted that none of the amendments are binding to the town, that amendments for Taylor would need to be approved by the council.