Fairfield council votes 5–1 not to reimburse former Mayor Moy’s legal fees

The Fairfield City Council voted 5–1 at a special meeting to decline a request to reimburse former Mayor Moy for legal fees tied to the residency inquiry.

Councilmember Williams made a motion that "the city of Fairfield not pay for former Mayor Cat Moy's attorney fees," and a colleague seconded the motion (the seconding speaker was not explicitly identified in the transcript). After brief discussion in which council members said they did not have a confirmed dollar amount for the fees, the council conducted a roll-call vote. Councilmembers Carr, Panduro, Sandoo, Tonison and Williams voted in favor of withholding reimbursement; Vice Mayor Berttoni voted no.

City staff told the council that reimbursing the former mayor’s legal fees would be legally permissible but discretionary. "It is a permissible but discretionary act on the part of the council," a staff member said during the discussion. Council members who voted to withhold payment said they were acting without complete information about the amount of attorney fees; at least one council member said the figure matters to their decision.

Carol Hadock, a public commenter, urged the council to return taxpayer funds and argued the probe had cost roughly $66,000. Staff said they had requested the former mayor provide the fee amount but that she had declined to supply it for the agenda. The council’s vote ends the city’s consideration of reimbursing those fees at this meeting; no supplementary payment was authorized.