Residents raised concerns at a town hall about the city using taxpayer funds for outside counsel and issuing subpoenas to citizens in the zoning‑for‑housing litigation.

Because the case is active, council members declined to comment on specifics of litigation. The city attorney, invited by the mayor to explain the process, said the city — as a litigant — is entitled to seek discovery and to subpoena non‑party witnesses when plaintiffs identify them as potential witnesses under oath.

“We are a litigant just like any other litigant,” the city attorney said, explaining that subpoenas to third parties are a routine part of the discovery process. The attorney added the city would have no further comment about the pending case.

Council members did not provide additional details about the outside law firm’s contract or fees during the town hall; the mayor directed residents with further legal questions to the city attorney’s office for information that could be disclosed without undermining active litigation.

Ending: The city reiterated it will not comment further on ongoing litigation, and members encouraged residents to contact the city attorney’s office for procedural or public‑records questions that are not precluded by the case’s status.