Council recommends Bernadette Smith as chief of legislative services; May 17 start proposed

The council recommended Bernadette Smith to serve as chief of the Legislative Services Division and directed the Office of General Counsel to file one-cycle emergency legislation to make a prospective appointment effective May 17.

Jason, a presenting staff member, told the council that the position was posted internally for one week and drew four applicants. He said he and Leah Hayes, director of employee services, interviewed all four candidates on April 4 and April 7 and independently ranked the candidates the same way. Jason put forward “Ms. Bernadette Smith, who is currently with the Office of General Counsel” as the committee’s recommendation.

Jason said he has worked with Bernadette Smith “both in the capacity of, as a legislative or legal assistant, but then also, working with her in her management position that she’s currently in,” and called her “an excellent fit” because of her experience. He also repeated Smith’s interview characterization that she is “firm but fair.”

Bernadette Smith, introduced as the Office of General Counsel’s office manager, told the council she had discussed a start date with Mr. Fackler and Dylan Rangel and that May 19 had been discussed as a payroll date; she later said the recommended effective date would be May 17. Smith said she could not yet outline long-term plans without seeing the office’s current operations but said she wanted legislative materials and meetings to be “more interactive” and, ultimately, “real time,” so constituents could access meetings and ask questions without coming to City Hall.

A public commenter, John Nooney, used his two minutes to raise concerns about online meeting platforms and remote public participation, saying that remote comment systems can be shut down or disrupted. Doctor Johnson interrupted to note the speaker was not addressing the appointment specifically and to ask that remarks be limited to the appointment item.

Before the vote, a council member asked Jason to confirm on the record that the intended salary for Smith, if appointed, was within the position’s range; Jason confirmed that it was within the range typically used for comparable chiefs and that the specific salary amount was not before the body. A council member moved the recommendation and a second was made. The motion passed by voice vote and was announced as unanimous; no roll-call vote or individual tallies were recorded in the transcript.

After the vote the presiding officer asked for any further questions or comments and then adjourned the meeting.