BRADENTON BEACH – The city commission unanimously approved Mayor John Chappie’s recommendation that Erica Augello as lead attorney and the Trask Daigneault LLP law firm be appointed as interim city attorney for up to six months.
Augello, also the city attorney for Holmes Beach, did not attend the Oct. 23 commission meeting.
City officials sought an interim city attorney to serve before they choose a permanent replacement for retired City Attorney Ricinda Perry.
Following an interview by commissioners at an Oct. 7 emergency special work meeting, Chappie made the recommendation to contract with the Clearwater-based Trask Daigneault LLP law firm with Augello as lead city attorney.
“In going through the proposal material, you have the whole gamut of areas of law that we need help on,” Chappie said. “I think it will be very beneficial not to have just one attorney but to have a team.”
Augello said at that interview that she would be the first point of contact and the person who attends city meetings.
Commissioners questioned Augello and attorney Robert Eschenfelder at the Oct. 7 meeting about topics that included potential conflicts between Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach, Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) experience, fees and the role of city attorney.
“I’m not entirely comfortable with Erica because of her role in Holmes Beach,” Vice-Mayor Deborah Scaccianoce said at the Oct. 23 meeting. “I do like the law firm, but we do have six months to work through this and make sure everything goes smoothly, so I’m open minded.”
Chappie said he thought there could possibly be some issues at times.
“If any issue arises and you have that concern, I would identify it as soon as you can and bring it up to Miss Augello and I’m sure she will respond appropriately to the concern,” said attorney Robert Lincoln, who has been representing Bradenton Beach since Perry’s retirement.
