Boca Raton council approves city‑attorney separation, sets Oct. 31 effective date after debate

The Boca Raton City Council voted 4–1 on July 23 to approve a separation agreement with City Attorney Diana Grubb Fraser, amending the effective date to Oct. 31, 2024, and directing the city manager to begin an executive search and report back at the August meeting.

Mayor and several council members framed the action as a transition move intended to allow staff to prepare for upcoming major projects and to avoid a mid‑cycle turnover while high‑priority solicitations and proposals are expected. Council Member Thompson and others urged that an independent outside employment attorney review the separation paperwork before the council approved it, citing best‑practice transparency; Thompson ultimately voted against the measure.

Under the amended schedule the one‑time payment due on the earlier date was discussed in public. City staff provided calculation figures during the meeting: the October 31 payment was reported on the record as approximately $437,046.27, with a subsequent payment date of Nov. 15 tied to contract terms. Council directed staff to engage an executive‑search firm to recruit the next city attorney and to return with recommendations on interim coverage and timing at the August meeting.

Public commenters urged careful review of the contract and called for independent oversight; council members cited prior reviews, legal opinions from earlier administrations and the city manager’s assessment when debating whether new outside counsel was necessary. The amended motion passed by roll call, with Thompson recorded as the lone ‘no’ vote.

The council’s action begins a transition process: staff will start the search, consider interim coverage options and ensure continuity for litigation and other active matters handled by the city attorney’s office.