Lawtey City Council member Emily Hoffman said she has tried twice to get the City of Lawtey to pay her $4,700 legal bill but has been stymied both times.
The Law Office of Lynn W. Martin sent the council member the nearly $5,000 invoice after defending Hoffman against a state ethics complaint filed by Police Chief Jerry Feltner.
In dismissing Feltner’s complaint for lack of legal sufficiency, the Florida Commission on Ethics said Feltner alleged that Hoffman “used threatening and disrespectful language toward multiple city employees, including yelling, making references to an employee’s sexual orientation and threatening to have employees fired.”
Hoffman’s attorney wrote to the council, explaining that it is allowed to cover Hoffman’s legal fees under Florida law.
Hoffman said she had trouble getting her legal bill on the council’s October agenda and that not enough votes were present at the November meeting after two of her colleagues were absent.
