A familiar presence at Holmes Beach City Hall for three decades is stepping down.
City attorney Patricia Petruff of the Bradenton-based Dye, Harrison, Kirkland, Petruff, Pratt and St. Paul law firm, submitted her notice Sept. 30 to Mayor Judy Titsworth announcing she will step down in January 2022.
The city hired the firm in the early 1970s to provide legal counsel, including a city attorney — a named charter official — and paid the firm about $155,000 for its services in 2020, according to city treasurer Lori Hill.
Petruff wrote to Titsworth that she had worked with nine mayors, including the late Mayor Charlotte Long, who served 1978-85.
She now plans to transition to an “of counsel” position with the firm, limiting her practice to a case-by-case basis and less day-to-day work, leaving her unavailable to serve as city attorney.
City attorneys in Florida advise municipalities in legal matters, including the creation of code and city procedures, as well as handle some civil cases.
Petruff wrote that her firm asked attorney Thomas Thanas, who has worked with city staff and officials in recent years, to take her role in Holmes Beach.
Thanas has represented several municipalities in the Chicago area, including as a city attorney, according to his profile page on the firm’s website, www.dyeharrison.com.
“I will still be available to Tom and the other attorneys at the firm to provide information and expertise regarding the city’s operations and legal issues,” Petruff wrote. “While I have enjoyed being the primary contact with the city, it is time for me to spend more time traveling and devoting more time to charities that I already support.”
“We will take all necessary steps to make the transition to Tom as the primary counsel as seamless and effortless as possible,” she added.
However, Titsworth has her own recommendation to fill the charter position.
Titsworth wrote in an Oct. 8 email to The Islander she instead would recommend city commissioners name Erica Augello from the Clearwater-based Trask Daigneault law firm to fill the charter role of city attorney at their Oct. 12 meeting, which will be held after The Islander’s press deadline.
Augello currently serves as the city’s code compliance attorney. Also, the Trask Daigneault firm represents the city in the long, ongoing treehouse lawsuit.
On her departure, Petruff wrote in an Oct. 7 email to The Islander that it is “sad and scary” to step down after spending such a long time with the city, but expressed excitement over her retirement.
“I need to enjoy my long-awaited retirement, which has been delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions,” Petruff said. “I have enjoyed my tenure with the city.”
“The city has a good team that is committed to serving the residents,” she added.
“Although I have been expecting her retirement for some time now, she will be greatly missed as her passion and historical knowledge has been an asset,” Titsworth wrote. “With the many years of service to the city I think of her as much as a friend as our city attorney. I wish her all the best in her retirement and her travels.”