City Council lost its top choice as independent legislative counsel for Mayor Alvin Brown’s pension reform Tuesday when Holland & Knight withdrew from consideration.
The Council Executive Committee, comprising Council President Bill Bishop, Vice President Bill Gulliford and Finance Committee Chair John Crescimbeni, have met several times in the past few weeks to seek firms for additional counsel on Brown’s pension reform.
Posted June 7, the position is to advise Council on legislative matters that “supplement, not replace, services provided by the Office of General Counsel.”
Legislation approved in May appropriates $75,000 from Council special operating reserves for the hire.
After reviewing applicants, the committee decided on Holland & Knight, but Tuesday discussion of a potential conflict of interest arose during a committee meeting.
George Gabel, a Holland & Knight partner, is representing The Florida Times-Union in a state Sunshine Law action against the City alleging Brown’s administration illegally negotiated the pension reform deal in private meetings instead of being open to the public.
The committee reviewed the situation Monday and talked to Robert Friedman, a partner in the firm’s Miami office. Committee members decided there was no conflict, saying the two matters were separate. Friedman also said there was no conflict.
If later determined there is a conflict, both the Times-Union and City could sign a waiver to resolve the issue.
A letter of engagement was then amended to include additional language and delivered, but Bishop said Tuesday the firm then withdrew.
He said Council was determined to be not able to sign a waiver on behalf of the entire City — being just the legislative branch — and it’s “back to the drawing board” to find representation on the issue “as fast as we can.”
Items discussed and approved at Tuesday’s Council meeting, the final one of the year:
• An incentives deal providing Bank of America with $1.04 million in City and state funding was approved. The deal will create 200 jobs in the expansion of the company’s two Southside offices to accommodate Bank of America and Merrill Lynch lines of business. The approval comes a day after the Finance Committee approved the deal following a deferral last week spurred by questions from the members and the Council Auditor’s Office.
• An ordinance to appropriate $5 million for the design and construction of a Supervisor of Elections office was withdrawn, a formality in the ongoing discussions for the future of the facility. Council has discussed three potential locations for the warehouse functions of the supervisor’s office, deferring three pieces of legislation last week. Brown’s administration said the City Real Estate Office would review each offer then make a recommendation through substitute legislation by July 23, the next full Council meeting.
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