Bradenton Beach city attorney Ricinda Perry will sit this one out.
After much discussion among commissioners at their Nov. 6 meeting, a unanimous decision was reached to remove Perry from ongoing forfeiture proceedings against Mayor Bill Shearon.
Commissioners Jack Clarke, Jan Vosburgh and Janie Robertson stated a preference for Perry to continue the next stage of the process — a meeting to initiate Shearon’s forfeiture and present the charges against him.
“At the initiation of forfeiture and the charge,” said Clarke, “since no conclusions are reached at that point in the procedure, I think it might be helpful… if (Perry) would sit in on the meeting, because we don’t want to make any missteps in either direction at the initial stages of this procedure.” Clarke said he wouldn’t want to repeat the process because of legal missteps.
Vosburgh and Robertson also advocated for Perry to have some level of involvement.
Commissioner Ed Straight said, “I don’t feel comfortable with her doing that,” of Perry’s involvement.
“I strongly believe it’s a conflict of interest,” countered Shearon. “If we want an attorney there, then somebody’s going to have to make a recommendation,” suggesting the city retain outside counsel.
Perry weighed in, saying, “I personally don’t want to be involved in the forfeiture proceedings.”
Perry said she has to work with the commission and staff and she doesn’t want to appear ineffective in her position as city attorney.
Vosburgh then changed her stance. I will go by Ricinda’s wishes,” she said, adding, “I don’t think another attorney is necessary.”
Clarke appeared unconvinced, but a motion by Robertson, seconded by Vosburgh, to remove Perry from the forfeiture proceedings passed unanimously.
Due to scheduling conflicts, the commission won’t meet until after the Thanksgiving holiday to formally initiate the forfeiture. The charges against Shearon also will be introduced at that meeting.
