LANCASTER — Lancaster City Attorney and former City Council member Leonard Smith resigned his position after a special City Council meeting Tuesday night.
Smith served as city attorney for two years, since the time Mayor Brenda Powers took office. His resignation letter did not include a reason for stepping down, according to City Clerk Shari Lane.
“I tried to talk him out of it,” said Councilman Bret Baeirlein. “His expertise has been invaluable for us.”
Powers said one of the things that appealed to her about having Smith on board is his dedication to community service.
Smith has been an active member of the Shriners men’s fraternity for 30 years. The charitable arm of that organization, Shriners Hospitals for Children, has 22 hospitals in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Doctors provide free orthopedic care, cleft lip and palate treatment, spinal cord rehabilitation and burn treatment free of charge to eligible children under the age of 18.
Smith said he has financially sponsored children needing medical treatment and food for 50 years; he is also a 33rd degree Mason.
“We’re really sad to see Leonard go,” Baierlein said. “It’s going to be difficult to find a replacement.”
Smith declined to comment about why he resigned his position, only saying that all of his opportunities to serve Lancaster as well as engage in charity work have been a “great honor.”
Powers said the next step is for her to find and appoint Smith’s replacement. City Council would then vote whether to accept the appointment.
“Leonard’s done a wonderful job,” the mayor said. “We need to find someone like him who can step up and help our city.”
