An effort to bring payment of a controversial legal bill to a vote moved forward yesterday, as Pittsburgh City Council members voted 5-3 to consider the $10,706 invoice for work related to a revoked Lamar Advertising billboard permit. A vote to pay the bill could happen today.

Attorney Hugh McGough submitted the invoice for work on behalf of council President Doug Shields and members William Peduto, Bruce Kraus and Ricky Burgess, who challenged the permit.

Last month, the four council members sought to have the city pay the bill. The Law Department wrote a 13-page opinion saying that it was their personal debt, since council never voted to hire Mr. McGough. It said that if the four voted to have the city pay the bill, they might "immediately forfeit their office."

Former city lawyer Marvin A. Fein, of Squirrel Hill, has contradicted the Law Department's findings, and defended the members' right to vote on the invoice without forfeiting their offices.

Mr. Burgess did not vote.

"I cannot and will not put my council seat in jeopardy," he said.