City of Bonifay looks to get new attorney by end of 2023

cbreaux@kentsmith.biz

The City of Bonifay expects to hire Jonathan Holloway as the new city attorney during a special meeting on Dec. 21, starting at 9 a.m. 

The City getting a new attorney before the years wraps up was briefly discussed during a regular meeting on Monday, Dec. 11. The City Council put out a request for applications after the former city attorney Michelle Jordan submitted her 60 days resignation notice on Sep. 11.

According to his application, Holloway is a “sole-practicioner with over 20 years of experience covering a range of civil law issues.”

“The majority of my professional work is connected to state, county or local government affairs either directly or indirectly, on a broad spectrum of affairs including government contracting, public records and Sunshine Law, and real property transactions and land planning,” Holloway wrote.

Holloway’s fees include a $3000 monthly base charge, which includes up to 12 hours of attorney time other than travel hours and routine consultations with City elected officials and department heads. Additional charges if the City exceeds that amount are $300 per hour. 

He has practiced in Crestview since 2007 and been Crestview’s city attorney since February 2019. He is also the current city attorney for Laurel Hill and serves as counsel to numerous special fire control districts in Okaloosa County. 

“Prior to 2007, I was associated with a statewide law firm based in Tallahassee, where my practice focused on highway and heavy-civil construction litigation,” Holloway wrote. 

Holloway’s experience includes advising clients on contracts; appropriation and public financing risks; working with governments at the state, county, and local levels in property matters; and vendor contracts.

“I regularly advise clients on interlocal agreements for services, HR/personnel issues, budgeting and policy when my input is sought,” he wrote.

Holloway has held an annual four-hour government ethics course for local elected officials for the last four years.

“Most importantly, I want to stress that my philosophy as an advisor (not a policy maker) is that I provide input and advice when it is sought from me by policy makers,” he wrote. “In other words, I am not an active speaker at public meetings and I let policymakers make policy free from unsolicited advice as long as there is no potential legal ramifications from a chosen policy path.”

Danielle Contini also applied to be the new attorney, though Holloway was ranked higher by a City committee who reviewed the applications.

“He meets our needs,” City Clerk Rickey Callahan said. 

Holloway wrote that he looks forward “to working with the City on a long-term basis.”

“I am flexible to meet the needs of the City and desire to have a relationship where the City exerts significant control over the involvement of City Attorney, such that costs can be controlled and expectations are not just met, but exceeded,” he wrote. “I believe my proposal reflects a commitment to working with the City to achieve a mutually beneficial relationship.”