[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6481952,"mediaKeyId","5599871-c447f9ac36403305d53ee1dc966502a8","parentId",5599871,"title","Personnel committee authorizes council to engage legislative counsel and outside firm Burr & Forman","audioSeconds",2065,"startMs",581450,"endMs",2646840,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5599871-c447f9ac36403305d53ee1dc966502a8&start=581&end=2646","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5599871-c447f9ac36403305d53ee1dc966502a8/thumbnail_581450.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6481952/Jacksonville/Duval-County/Florida/Personnel-committee-authorizes-council-to-engage-legislative-counsel-and-outside-firm-Burr-Forman","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6481952-248583e61d9d63dba26733f6cb24375e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770658784&Signature=WrhRl5X8cM7MyxjaZFK2oEBeuPBUEmWKNQwDdrA74RMWXAJrkvwjk9yvdzserK4mAScBVXsR-xCOUlFTsOcHtTOyGO~2auq1qTNiLh-~CVjSkyD2xNAtb7~1KujBHyMJ-nr1sY-AiUCD47HfzzW-9RMde-ufM57uHnsV76P3se~aDogF9hjE52dgTnqTdYGQUGdbSSq71CkszDE9qFWczpAIyyTn8n3gFgcJjEVHSVVVNmwHCCbXXNkKIqRJVig6MEDUuWZLGlKBMwnJlYDyumqa6yqmXPmXIpCbgbOSwMskbuKAfWCVB-v3J89nXpWbGUCoZxgdt6A~QQvTtwPXOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Jacksonville, FL","date","2025-08-19T00:00:00Z","article","The Jacksonville City Council personnel committee voted to authorize the engagement of legislative counsel and to allow the council president to negotiate an engagement with the outside firm Burr & Forman LLP, while also discussing whether the council secretary may serve as legislative counsel.

Council President introduced the agenda item saying the council had experienced differences with the Office of General Counsel and that the council needed legal advice on legislative matters from counsel who report directly to the legislative branch. Council Member Rockman Johnson and others said the council previously authorized a $100,000 appropriation for legislative counsel and discussed which firms were under availability.

Mary Stifopoulos of the Office of General Counsel identified the charter and code provisions that permit the city council to establish an office of legislative counsel. \"The council's authority to engage, and to create an office of legislative counsel is actually in 7.01 of the city charter,\" Stifopoulos said, and she cited chapter 14 of the city code as further implementing language. She told members the personnel committee must authorize the engagement of private firms to provide services under the office of legislative counsel.

Members discussed whether the council secretary, Jason Teal, could serve as legislative counsel. Teal said the office would be an advisory role and not hold sovereign power: \"The role of the office of legislative council is not one who is vested with sovereign power. It is merely an adviser to the council,\" he said, adding that the office would be limited to matters that come before the council and that he would maintain confidences and professional duties if asked to serve. Teal said he would prefer a retainer-style funding rather than hourly billing to avoid administrative complications.

Some members urged caution. Council Member Rockman Johnson and another member raised concerns about charter supremacy and possible legal challenges if the council elevated the council secretary to the role without further vetting. One member asked that the committee consider other former general counsels and firms, naming Rogers Towers and other firms discussed historically.

The committee discussed existing funding. Committee staff reported a prior $100,000 appropriation was made for legislative counsel; the current balance available for use was stated as $77,953 because portions had been used to engage Ballard Spahr LLP for a previous matter. Members discussed whether GrayRobinson had been engaged (committee staff said GrayRobinson had not been used) and whether Burr & Forman should be added to the authorized list of vendors under section 14.105 of the code.

After debate, a committee member moved to authorize engaging Burr & Forman and to authorize the council secretary to serve as legislative counsel with authority to engage outside firms as needed within available funds; a member seconded the motion. The committee voted by voice; the chair said \"The motion carries.\" The committee then separately moved and approved a resolution authorizing the council president to negotiate the engagement terms with Burr & Forman. No recorded roll‑call tally was taken during the meeting.

The action authorizes the personnel committee and the council president to proceed with an engagement for legislative counsel services, with the understanding that the office of legislative counsel's services are to be initiated and supervised by the council president and subject to available funding and subsequent personnel committee oversight.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Jacksonville, FL - Personnel Committee Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Jacksonville City Council personnel committee authorized the council to engage legislative counsel services and directed the council president to negotiate terms with Burr & Forman LLP, and discussed whether the council secretary may serve in the legislative counsel role.","taxTitle","Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida","taxId",2881,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6481956,"Personnel committee approves follow-up employee satisfaction survey using existing vendor",314,56989,371760,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5599871-c447f9ac36403305d53ee1dc966502a8&start=56&end=371","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5599871-c447f9ac36403305d53ee1dc966502a8/thumbnail_56989.jpg","/articles/6481956/Jacksonville/Duval-County/Florida/Personnel-committee-approves-follow-up-employee-satisfaction-survey-using-existing-vendor","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6481956-1efca788b0767c4861def5abbf1744c0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770658784&Signature=nQKsXnfAPBwEug572EXnBFFXFbQ5S2ON9Xodi-2pYg1jXmezWkEQcpkKMDTGs43PZ8xUBOFSDVCixWg~ontFFE1yl2x~pujifnaZbZMHuqITxs~1cPn-a9Ivc9J3O2D4a75dvu9R5A3Wa0I6dFBafWZiY1Z5yR~vjMhiBS2eHeGuMi70Tzk8ikLUg475CBuY0N82EL9qo7PLKVFCKdl1FTWDzgCLzsaB5Ku5PsBuuJGxDGYB39nn1sGh~bh2n2FK7NV7l7dE7VvA7IArwkyxlEuLvFFK7E-PnGtl9~Znc0Ho4ALYFHiTjST8cqtB14nqxaLgAqT3CfSoYK4fbruCLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Jacksonville City Council personnel committee voted to reimplement a follow-up employee satisfaction survey using the outside firm already under contract, the committee decided during its first meeting of the council year.

Council Secretary Jason Teal told the committee he had recommended a follow-up survey six months into his tenure and asked whether the committee wanted to reengage the firm already under contract. \"The reason I wanted to have personnel meet is that when I was hired as council secretary back in March, part of the impetus behind that was a fairly negative employee satisfaction survey,\" Teal said. He told the committee the follow-up would be scheduled for September and framed as a pre/post check on staff morale.

Council Member Rockman Johnson, who helped organize the first survey, argued for using the same vendor so results would be comparable. \"Using the same organization to do kind of the pre and post makes sense because it would give consistency and make sure the second round results aren't biased,\" Johnson said. He moved to reimplement the six‑month follow-up with timing to be coordinated by HR and Teal; a member seconded the motion. The committee confirmed the existing contract covers a one‑year period and that the council need only call the vendor to engage services.

Mary Stifopoulos of the Office of General Counsel advised she would review the contract language to confirm the committee could proceed. She told the committee that, to her recollection, the initial engagement with the firm included the follow-up survey. Committee members also discussed the contract timeline: participants said the vendor engagement began in January 2024 and the one‑year availability runs through January 2025.

After discussion, the committee took a voice vote. \"All in favor of the motion, signify by saying aye,\" the chair said; members responded and the chair added, \"The motion carries.\" No roll‑call tally was taken and no additional budget appropriation was reported.

The committee discussed public comment procedures and heard one public speaker, John J. Newney, who identified himself as a Jacksonville resident and expressed support for the survey. The committee did not amend the motion and directed HR and the council secretary to coordinate timing and implementation under the existing contract.","The Jacksonville City Council personnel committee voted to reengage an outside vendor to run a six-month follow-up employee satisfaction survey under the existing one‑year agreement; committee members said the same vendor would provide consistency and confidentiality and no new payment is required before the contract expires in January 2025.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Personnel committee authorizes council to engage legislative counsel and outside firm Burr & Forman

Personnel committee approves follow-up employee satisfaction survey using existing vendor