The Chattanooga City Council approved Mayor Ron Littlefield's new Cabinet Tuesday night, with only a few questions raised concerning the city attorney.

Councilwoman Carol Berz asked during the Legal and Legislative Committee whether there could be any problems with conflict of interest since the city attorney reports to both the mayor and the council.

"These are questions I've heard," Dr. Berz said.

City Attorney Mike McMahan said lawyers abide by their own standard of ethics, and he would step away if he was faced with a possible conflict of interest. If there were a perception of a conflict, he would want to know, he said.

"Let me know, that's when I'll recuse myself," Mr. McMahan said.

He also noted that, in the past 18 years, there was only one instance when the city attorney recused himself. That came when City Attorney Randy Nelson was dealing with the case on whether former City Councilwoman Marti Rutherford lived in the district she represented, he said.

The council voted 8-0 to accept the 10 nominees, whose annual salaries range from $74,895 to $124,812. Councilwoman Sally Robinson did not vote because she was away on vacation.

In other news, the council also voted 8-0 to approve a lease of the Bessie Smith Hall for $1 annually for 10 years. The city and county jointly own the building and lease it to the Chattanooga African-American Museum.

Councilwoman Deborah Scott raised questions last week about whether the lease contract included an obligation that the city also fund the organization.

"It just wasn't a building lease," she said.

The city attorney's office reworded the contract and brought it back to the council Tuesday.

Chief Financial Officer Daisy Madison said some of the misunderstanding occurred because of an audit conducted a few months ago. She said more transparency was needed regarding museum finances.

"The intent is to keep things as they are, but formalized," she said.