City commissioners decided Wednesday night they wanted someone else to answer two questions that have plagued the city for months -- whether the Angler's Club lease is valid and is the community getting its money's worth from the agreement.

For that purpose, a 3-2 majority -- Vice Mayor Jack Grasty and Commissioner Jim Hathaway voted no -- agreed to hire the Orlando law firm of Shutts and Bowen for a fee of $7,500.

The firm will conduct an independent review of the club's 99-year, $25 per annum, lease of city-owned waterfront property to see whether there are any red flags such as discrimination in membership practices or if it fulfills the original intent of the agreement. That was to promote tourism and business development, according to Mayor Sally Mackay, who led the majority.

Mackay went so far as to challenge the club's 90 members to "step into 2009" and decide how they could contribute to New Smyrna Beach in a significant way.