TAMPA - A lawyer for Hillsborough County Attorney Emmy Acton says she wants to keep open the possibility of returning to work with the county - at least part time - if she is able to recover from illness.
In a letter to county negotiators Monday, Acton's attorney, Robert McKee, said she also wants commissioners to acknowledge the quality of her 20 years of county work as a condition of any resolution to her employment status. And she also seeks to have County Administrator Dan Kleman removed from the talks given his pending departure from the county.
Acton has been on short-term medical disability since mid May due to illness relating to her diabetes. Her leave expires Saturday.
The leave followed shortly after allegations surfaced claiming hostile working conditions and other misdeeds. A county investigation was stalled by commissioners. The county and Acton's lawyers have been negotiating the terms of her departure from the job.
State Attorney's Office spokeswoman Pam Bondi confirmed Tuesday that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has forwarded a report to her office about allegations it investigated regarding Acton.
Commissioners voted 4-3 Tuesday not to extend Acton's disability and to have the administration report to them by Nov. 25 on how the settlement talks are proceeding.
