Unhappy with its previous attorney's advice on a law allowing taller buildings, the city hires a St. Petersburg lawyer.
By KATHY SAUNDERS
Published May 2, 2004
TREASURE ISLAND - St. Petersburg lawyer Maura J. Kiefer is the city's new legal adviser.
Commissioners on Wednesday formally parted ways with Jim Denhardt, continuing their purge of officials connected with unpopular land use rules.
Denhardt, Treasure Island's attorney of 17 years, was among the applicants for the position and made it to the final cut after six weeks of review and interviews. But commissioners said Wednesday they would not retain Denhardt because of community pressure to hire a new attorney.
"There is the longstanding community perception, right or wrong, that the community would like to see a new city attorney," said Mayor Mary Maloof.
Denhardt has been criticized for failing to stop commissioners in 2002 from adopting a law allowing taller beachfront buildings. The ordinance later was thrown out.
Commissioners also questioned Denhardt's ability to provide representation after recently accepting a position as attorney for the city of Pinellas Park. He also is the attorney for Redington Shores.
Kiefer received high marks from commissioners because of her ability to make the city one of her primary clients. They were pleased that she agreed to provide them with a cell phone number or information about where she could be reached after hours.
They also liked her salary requirements. Kiefer will work for $34,800 a year and $75 an hour for extra representation or litigation beyond usual meetings and responsibilities. Denhardt had a retainer of $36,000 a year and received $150 an hour for additional projects.
Kiefer has focused on environmental law, criminal defense, real estate and corporate law. She has served as acting or special city attorney for the cities of Port Richey, Kenneth City and Belleair Beach. Before opening her practice in St. Petersburg in 1993, Kiefer was the managing partner of a Tampa environmental consulting and clean-up company.
Treasure Island commissioners said they were impressed with her environmental background.
Commissioners also discussed a incident between Kiefer and Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Richard Luce, who has permanently barred her from his courtroom.
During a trial in May 2003, a bailiff accused the mother of a man Kiefer represented of raising her middle finger in disrespect at Luce. The judge did not see the gesture.
After hearing from the bailiff, Luce called Kiefer's client back into the courtroom and, according to Kiefer, lectured the defendant about the seriousness of the attempted murder charge and potential life sentence he faced.
Kiefer thought Luce was angry and ultimately asked the judge to remove himself from the case.
The judge said Kiefer violated Bar rules by exaggerating his anger to get him off the trial. The Florida Bar cleared Kiefer of any wrongdoing.
Mayor Mary Maloof said she was more concerned about Kiefer's lack of experience representing city officials. She said references told her that Kiefer "really did very little municipal attorney work for these cities." But, in the end, Maloof voted with the majority of the board.
"I feel she conducted herself well in the interviews and I just hope she works out," Maloof said.
Commissioner Alan Bildz has known Kiefer as a plumbing client. She contributed $50 to his election campaign, according to public records. He voted for her hiring Tuesday but did not disclose the campaign contribution.
Kiefer said she was excited about her new position and planned to begin reviewing the city charter right away.
Kiefer, who is divorced, lives on Tierra Verde with her 81-year-old mother. She is a triathlete who enjoys gardening and landscaping.
- Information from a story by Times staff writer William Levesque was used in this report.
