Town attorney considers rescinding her resignation

A search for a new town attorney that began May 30 might be over.

At the request of Mayor Jim Brown, which has the support of four other commissioners, Town Attorney Maggie Mooney-Portale has agreed to consider rescinding her resignation.

Brown, who was on vacation when Mooney-Portale resigned at the end of the May 19 regular workshop, pleaded with her to reconsider her decision at the end of Monday night’s regular meeting at Town Hall.

“I’m disappointed and angry our town attorney felt she needed to resign,” Brown said. “I really think she was reading the tea leaves wrong. I believe she has a lot of support and the majority is supportive.”

Brown, Vice Mayor Jack Duncan and Commissioners Terry Gans, Irwin Pastor and Pat Zunz raised their hands in support of Mooney-Portale when Brown asked for a show of support.

Only Commissioners Lynn Larson and Phill Younger, who have expressed their concern about Mooney-Portale in the past, didn’t raise their hands.

Brown’s comments and the show of support prompted Mooney-Portale to announce she will consider rescinding her resignation.

“I appreciate everyone that reached out to me,” Mooney-Portale said. “If the commission is willing to meet with me individually, I’m willing to entertain withdrawing my resignation.”

All commissioners agreed to the request.

Younger, meanwhile, said he will postpone his support.

“I would like to have the conversation first before making a decision,” Younger said.

Town Manager Dave Bullock and his staff began advertising for a new town attorney May 30 in local newspapers after the Longboat Key Town Commission signed off on a request for proposal (RFP) document that allows local lawyers to apply for the town attorney position.

Mooney-Portale has agreed to stay on in her capacity for three months or until a new attorney is selected.
The town is accepting bids for the attorney position until 10 a.m. June 16 unless Mooney-Portale agrees to rescind her resignation.

“I realize you have an RFP already out there and I would like to do this in an expedited fashion,” Mooney-Portale said.

Mooney-Portale was up for a commission evaluation June 1 and avoided that exercise with her resignation last month.

Brown said that evaluation, which Larson called for in May, is premature and shouldn’t be held until the fall at the earliest.

Mooney-Portale has been the town attorney for 11 months but was on maternity leave for approximately three months.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].