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Commission Delays Action On George Touart Legal Bills After Complaint Filed By Walnut Hill Man
February 6, 2009
Former Escambia County Administrator George Touart will have to wait a month to find out if Escambia County will pay legal fees he incurred defending himself against an ethics complaint filed in part by a Walnut Hill man.
The Escambia County Commission voted Thursday night to postpone the decision until March 5 because Touart’s attorney, Mike Patterson of the law firm Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon, was unable to attend the meeting. The county attorney is recommending that the county deny Touart’s request.
After Touart resigned in September 2007, an ethics complain was filed against him by Preston Solomon of Walnut Hill and Michael Coonan of Pensacola. The complaint was dismissed by the state’s ethics commission.
The ethics complained alleged that Touart was linked to company that was contracted to remove post-hurricane debris in the county. There were also allegations that Touart’s wife was improperly hired by the county.
County Attorney Allison Rogers has recommended that the Escambia County Commission deny Touart’s request for $3,629.60.
“The defense of complaints filed by Preston Solomon and Michael Coonan with the State of Florida Commission on Ethics by former County Administrator George Touart does not meet either statutory or common law criteria for reimbursement of legal fees and costs by Mr. Touart,” Rogers says in a letter presented to commissioners.
Patterson has requested that the county pay $3,446 in legal fees and $183 in other costs for the firm’s representation of Touart in the ethics matter.
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