Among the many challenges to the current Mayor and business as usual under his administration have been the questions about just how GC Cindy Laquidara ended up becoming the City's top lawyer after she resigned her position. Legislation has been proposed by members of council that include everything from a statement of "no confidence" to attempts to hire their own council in spite of the fact that Ms. Laquidara is supposed to represent all of our government offices equally. Recently there was a meeting of some on the City Council regarding Laquidara which was preceded and followed by statements from the Mayor's office explaining her hire and defending her position.
Laquidara along with about 60 other folks was asked to tender a "letter of resignation" when Alvin Brown took office. She did in fact turn in her letter of resignation to the Mayor and news reports later spoke about her return to a specific private law practice. All of those submitting resignations, including Laquidara, were told they could "reapply" for their old positions. The mayor then appointed a Mary Jarrett to replace Laquidara and as required by our City Charter, she was approved by City Council committee to that position. Later, Jarrett was told to leave her position and the Mayor announced that Cindy Laquidara was going to be installed as the head of GC. How was this accomplished if Laquidara resigned and was replaced with the approval of council committee per City Charter? The first step was to "concoct" a story in which the Mayor and his office would "claim" that they had never actually accepted Laquidara's resignation, that she was on leave and just came back after the Mayor asked her to. They thought they had it all worked out and that there would be no further questions about it. They were wrong in that assumption.
Here is the problem. Our City Charter requires that the hire of the head of GC is to apply and that their final approval was to be via council committee. That did not happen in the case of Laquidara. She was reinstalled without council approval. The Mayor thought they had themselves covered with the concocted story however what they failed to realize is that Jarrett had been legally put into office according to City Charter with council approval.
Browns claim that he "never" accepted Laquidara's resignation is what he and his office are standing upon. Oct 2011 Jarrett was put into the position of head of GC. Brown and his administration said that Cindy would take up her place as top city lawyer again in November of 2011. So according to Brown he didn't accept her resignation. If this is so, why did he make the following statements in an on the record interview with a business publication? See for yourself. As early as Sept 30, 2011, Brown goes on record speaking about his appointment of Jarrett to the office of GC and then gives his statement about
"outgoing" Cindy Laquidara. That's right
"outgoing". If the mayor had as he said "not" accepted Laquidara's resignation, why is he going on record via this business publication talking about the
"outgoing" Laquidara? Why was Jarrett hired and put into place legally via the City Charter and council? Could it be the Mayor has been caught in a lie? The answer appears to be he has. Below find the article in the Business Magazine as well as requests I have made to Human Resources for records under the "Sunshine Law". I will publicly state that I have tried to assure that the files I am requesting have not been "adjusted" in any way via requests of the mayor or his administration. Take note of the last line in the article confirming the committee as required by City Charter to approve Laquidara's replacement.
Expect another challenge from the council with regard to the legality of Laquidara's hire. This is important for more than one reason. First question was our City Charter violated?, A serious offense but more importantly is the realization that it looks to many citizens and members of the council that Laquidara appears to be coming up with legal opinions that "suit" the will of the Mayor and his agenda that are in fact questionable. This fact being evidenced by her opinions on the Mayor's travel expenses which were shot down by the "State Ethics Commission"!
Mayor Brown names Jarrett as acting general counsel
Posted on 30 September 2011.
Mayor Alvin Brown announced the appointment of Mary W. Jarrett as acting general counsel, effective Oct. 1, 2011.
“Mary Jarrett is a distinguished attorney whose experience and leadership will allow the Office of the General Counsel to continue to offer the best legal support possible for Jacksonville’s government agencies,†said Mayor Brown. “I greatly appreciate her willingness to serve.â€
Mary Jarrett joined the Office of the General Counsel in March 2007. She specializes in providing labor and employment advice and defense to city agencies. Prior to joining the Office of the General Counsel, Jarrett was a shareholder with Coffman, Coleman, Andrews & Grogan where she provided counseling, supervisor training, collective bargaining and administrative and court litigation defense to private and public employers. She is a board-certified labor and employment lawyer.
In addition to The Florida Bar, Jarrett is admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits and the United States District Courts for the Middle, Northern and Southern Districts of Florida.
Jarrett is a Master of Chester Bedell Inn of Court and a member of the Jacksonville Bar Association and the Jacksonville Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. She is “AV†rated by Martindale-Hubbell and a Florida Bar Board Certified Labor and Employment Lawyer.
Jarrett’s community activities include membership in the Jacksonville Women’s Network where she served as chair of the legal section (2003-2007) and serving the Jacksonville Speech and Hearing Center Board of Directors (board chair 2009 to present), the Renaissance Behavioral Health System Board of Directors (2008 – present), the Pine Castle Board of Directors (2001-2007, president in 2006), Girls Incorporated (1988-1994, president in 1992 and 1994), the Uptown Civitan Club of Jacksonville (president 1986-87) and Leadership Jacksonville (class of 2008).
“I am honored by this appointment and Mayor Brown’s confidence in me,†said Jarrett. “I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Office of the General Counsel to provide strong legal representation to our clients throughout consolidated government.â€
Mayor Brown also praised outgoing General Counsel Cindy Laquidara for her years of service.
“Cindy Laquidara is an outstanding attorney and dedicated public servant,†said Mayor Brown. “Her work in the Office of the General Counsel has been exemplary, and I greatly appreciate her service to the people of Jacksonville.â€
From 1998 to 2010, Laquidara served as chief deputy general counsel for the City of Jacksonville. She was appointed general counsel in July 2010.
Jarrett will serve in an acting capacity to ensure the continued work of the Office of the General Counsel while a new general counsel is selected. Mayor Brown will soon name a selection committee as provided in Section 7.203 of the Jacksonville City Charter. http://advantagebizmag.com/archives/9390
