Pensacola City Attorney fumbles baton on briefing city council

After Pensacola City Administrator Eric Olson passed the baton to City Attorney Lysia Bowling on briefing the City Council about the investigation into Fire Chief Matt Schmitt and Deputy Fire Chief Joe Glover, Bowling had little to tell them.

“It would be inappropriate to comment in a public forum,” she said. “One of the reasons is to preserve the privacy of the individuals who have not been accused of anything at this time. Also to preserve the integrity of the investigation.”

Unlike the City Administrator, Bowling addressed the council members directly.

Bowling explained, “The reason why I would be a contact person with outside counsel handling the specialized issues that might have been referred to them is because I am the city attorney and we’re endeavoring to have individuals who are outside counsel hired to keep me apprised and updated and we are endeavoring to do that across the board.”

Councilwoman Sherri Myers said, “Well the part of the question I’ve heard Council Member Cannada-Wynn ask is what is the HR process? Well, that, to me, does not sounds like something that would be confidential.”

Bowling agreed, “Well you’re correct. Absolutely correct. I was probably going to continue to respond but Council Member Wyngates’ last question was what I was responding to, but you are correct.”

She said she would make a report on the HR process. “That is a generalized practice, and I certainly will, I can review what is a generalized practice and make a report.”

Councilwoman Jewel Cannada Wynn said, “I have to wait for that… There is an ending, so there’s no timeline set for the investigation person, or an investigation to respond to the attorney, to the mayor, so we’re still in this limbo-type.”

The City Attorney said, “I don’t have the information right now, but I certainly will endeavor to answer those questions. I just don’t have that information but I will answer your questions.”

Myers asked Bowling if she had retained or suggested retaining the Beggs & Lane law firm to investigate this matter.

Lydia Bowling replied. “That law firm is under contract with the city. We have a contract for them to handle specialized matters and other matters. I did not give the directive but it was a decision by the client but I was made aware of it.”

Client? Myers was confused to whom the attorney was referring.

The attorney said, “I have, as you know, the City Council as a client and perhaps I should have clarified the mayor who is also a client. The mayor’s office. “

That was the end of City Attorney Lysia Bowling’s February report to the Pensacola City Council. Her report took less than four and half minutes and was given around 10:30 p.m.

How the City Council reacted will be the subject of the next post.