The Mandeville City Council voted during a special meeting Friday morning to hire the R. Gray Sexton law firm to assist them in their response to an audit performed by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor.

The audit was initiated late last year after the New Orleans Metropolitan Crime Commission contacted the auditor’s office about a tip they received concerning the Mandeville Police Department’s Citizen’s Service Fund’s toy program.

MPD Chief Tom Buell admitted to taking money from the fund to finance Mayor Eddie Price’s Christmas gifts instead of taking a collection from his staff, like in past years. The auditor’s office reported earlier this year their audit into the service had expanded to include the entire workings of Mandeville’s city’s government. The report was recently completed and issued to city officials for review.

“Once we’ve finished the audit, we sit down with the agency and explain to them what we’ve found,” Assistant Auditor Dan Daigle said. It’s basically, “here’s our draft, this is what we have now tell us where we’re wrong.”

If you ask Mayor Eddie Price, the audit is incorrect in several places.

“A ton” of revisions have been made by Price and his counterparts, which he said will be submitted to the auditors Monday, a day before the response is due.

Daigle said the auditor’s office issued the document to the city two weeks ago, but the city has not contacted the auditors since. He said the review, response or inquiries to the report is due Tuesday.

“We’ll be happy to revise any mistakes, but only if they can be proven,” Daigle said.

He also added the report and the city’s response will become a public document Aug. 11.

That’s where the attorney comes in, Price said.

According to a letter written to the city by Sexton, Mandeville selected his firm “in connection with a potential dispute involving the Office of the Legislative Auditor.”

The attorney will cost the city $235 per hour but will play an important role in helping them with their response and revisions to the report, Price said.

Price also said the city sought legal counsel soon after the report was completed, but the two firms previously chosen had conflicting interests, which ultimately led to the special meeting being called so the council could approve the immediate hiring of Sexton’s firm.