New Port Richey City Council to Interview Attorney Candidates Today

Candidates from three law firms firms with offices in the Tampa Bay will be interviewed for the city attorney job Tuesday, May 17, by the .

Thomas K. Morrison, who held the city attorney position for 16 years, chose not to renew his in January. Since Feb. 1, Michael Davis and Susan Churuti, of Bryant Miller Olive’s office in Tampa, have been giving legal counsel to the city as interim attorney and interim deputy attorney.  Their contract ends May 31, and Davis has applied to fill the vacant city attorney position and bring Churuti with him.

"I've been very pleased with the work that both he and Susan have done," said. "I think they've been very professional. They've shown a good knowledge of the law, and they've been very timely with their legal advice." 

The pool of candidates has been whittled down to its current number from nine,  Schneiger said. Schneiger said he got the opinion of department heads such as Police Chief Jeffrey Harrington, Development Director Lisa Fierce and Human Resources Director Steve Rosenthal.

The city budgeted $93,000 for city attorney costs for the current fiscal year, Schneiger said, down from $95, 576 budgeted last fiscal year.

"I think though when you're looking to hire professional services, you have to look at the quality of the services that are being provided," Schneiger said. "It might take one attorney five hours to do something that another one can do in one hour based on their expertise. So I don't think cost is the only thing you want to consider when you're considering hiring professional services, especially legal."   

Morrison's contract was for a monthly retainer of $3,500, according to city documents, with $130 for every hour worked beyond that. The monthly retainer was not to exceed $5,000 without approval from the council.

Morrison's payments exceeded $96,500 last year, according to the St. Petersburg Times. According to the Times, the council didn't give approval for the over time.

Schneiger said he is reserving his personal opinion on the atrongest candidate until after the interviews, which will be completed in a work session.

Here are the candidates who will be interviewed tonight at 5 p.m. in City Hall.

Candidate #1:

• Michael Davis, City Attorney; Susan Churuti, Deputy City Attorney

Firm:

• Bryant Miller Olive in Tampa (Firm has worked with local and state governments for 40 years)

Experience:

• Davis: Interim City Attorney of New Port Richey, City Attorney for St. Pete Beach since May, 2008;  St. Petersburg City Attorney for 19 years; primary representative for Bryant Miller Olive to the Toho Water Authority, which provides water and sewer service to Osceola County and part of Polk County.

• Churuti: Deputy Interim Attorney for New Port Richey, Pinellas County Attorney for more than 20 years. Serves as general counsel for 50 boards.

Rate:

• Option 1:  Flat $7,500 per month, excluding litigation, bond work and labor law. Same cost as interim attorney contract. No cost for travel time. Litigation: $265 per hour for attorney, $75 per hour for paralegal, $50 per hour for law clerk. Same costs as interim attorney contract.

• Option 2: $6,600 per month for 25 hours of regular work. Overtime: $265 per hour for attorney, $75 per hour for paralegal and $50 per hour for law clerk.  Litigation rates: same as option one.

Candidate #2:

• Jay Daigneault

Firm:

• Hubbard, Brandt, Trask, Yacavone, Metz & Daigneault, of Dunedin, combined 90 years of municipal law experience

Experience:

• Became a partner in 2011, concentrating on municipal representation and municipal litigation insurance defense work.  Practiced since 2006. Concentrated on cases involving municipal litigation for over two years as clerk. Defends municipalities insured by the Florida League of Cities.

Rate:

• Option A: Monthly retainer­­–$3,125 for as many as 25 hours of general, administrative and litigation duties. Matters not in retainer: Attorney–$135 an hour. Paralegal: $75 an hour. Reimbursement: photocopies: 20 cents each. Long distance work, postage: Actual cost. Travel outside of Pinellas and Pasco Counties: State per diem and mileage.  Lodging and airfare expenses.

• Option B: Monthly retainer–$5,000 for as many as 25 hours of service. Matters not included in retainer: $125 per hour. Reimbursement: Same as Option A.

Under this option, services include:

• travel and attendance of city meetings,
• responding to all inquiries from city staff
• preparation of ordinances and resolutions
• processing fines and lien settlement requests
• Preparation and review of resolutions, contracts and development agreements
• Research and preparation of legal opinions

Candidate #3:

• Andrew J. Salzman and Caitlin Sirico

Firm:

• Zimmet, Unice and Salzman, of Palm Harbor

Experience:  

• Salzman: Current City Attorney for Gulfport and town attorney for Redington Beach. Served as City Attorney for Indian Rocks Beach from 1990 to 2008. Served as city attorney for Madeira Beach and Kenneth City.  Represents several fire control districts, the Palm Harbor Community Services Agency. Provides employment and litigation council to Gulfside Regional Hospice. Practiced law in Florida since 1986.

• Sirico: Practices insurance defense, local government law foreclosure/bankruptcy law and other civil litigation. Attended Stetson College of Law from 2005 to 2008. Interned for the Florida Department of Transportation. Clerked for McRae and Metcalf in Tampa, and then Gallagher & Associates.

Rate: $150 per hour for attorneys and $95 for paralegals or a monthly retainer of $3,500 for 25 hours of work. $150 per hour for overtime. City would be responsible for expenses in both scenarios.