DETROIT, MI -- A protest song from the audience delayed a City Council vote Tuesday on a controversial contract.

(Update: Council votes 5-2 to approve contract)

After questioning the city's top attorney Edward Keelean for the second straight week on a potential conflict-of-interest in contracting the Jones Day law firm as the city's restructuring counsel, the council prepared to vote around 11:20 a.m.

But residents in the crowd who had spoken out against the $3.35 million contract began singing "We shall not be moved" and Council President Charles Pugh adjourned the meeting.

Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr was a Jones Day partner before he was appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder to take over Detroit government.

Orr, who has sweeping powers over city operations, including the ability to approve contracts on his own, issued an order last week that allows City Council to continue conducting day-to-day business as usual, though its actions remain subject to his final approval.

The council's attorney David Whitaker said there are concerns over Jones Day representing Bank of America Merrill Lynch, which holds city bonds.

"We think that negotiating, trying to negotiate down those future payments, where the city would be of course trying to pay less and Merril Lynch would obviously be trying to get more, would be a conflict, and it's an inherent conflict given the nature," Whitaker said.

"They're indicating that they can demonstrate sufficient separation between the client for it not to be a problem and they have indicated that they have a waiver from Bank of America to so indicate, but I'm not convinced."

Keelean, who was part of the committee that selected Jones Day, said the firm has revealed and addressed all potential conflicts.

"I believe that Jones Day has properly disclosed all potential conflicts," Keelean said.

"They've said if there's ever any direct litigation, outside or other council would have to be engaged."

Council members Brenda Jones and JoAnn Watson made clear their opposition to the contract. The other members were relatively quiet on the matter Tuesday.

"It is common sense that the city should not be hiring the same law firm to address its debt that represents the lenders," said Watson. "You can't represent both sides of the coin."

Brenda Jones also criticized the law firm for citing municipal bankruptcy experience in Orange County, Calif., Jefferson County, Ala. and Stockton, Calif., when Jones Day represented lenders and not the municipalities in the latter two cases.

Follow Khalil AlHajal on Twitter @DetroitKhalil or on Facebook at Detroit Khalil. He can be reached at kalhajal@mlive.com or 313-643-0527.