By Jane Smith
Max Lohman continues to impress the Delray Beach city commissioners with his legal knowledge, leadership skills and willingness to answer their questions. At the Feb. 21 City Commission meeting, he gave the update he promised when he was hired on Nov. 1. He began by praising the support staff of Sue Kiminas and Cathy Inglese. They have been with the city more than 20 years each.
“They are invaluable,” Lohman said. “They make the office work.”
That comment went over well with Mayor Cary Glickstein. “I appreciate that you acknowledge the support staff,” he said. “You’re the quarterback that department needs.”
Lohman also gave kudos to the assistant city attorneys who work for Delray Beach. He is revising the city’s purchasing policy so that it becomes a checklist that an assistant city attorney can review.
He’s streamlining other procedures to be able to hand them off to the assistant city attorneys.
Then, Lohman told commissioners what they wanted to hear: His average cost per month was less than $25,000. In the first three months, through Jan. 31, he has billed the city for $74,445.
January’s bill was higher than average with so many legal needs, Lohman said. He billed a total of $31,741, which included $2,950 for settlement negotiations in the Atlantic Crossing lawsuit.
Vice Mayor Jordana Jarjura said, “You obviously have the technical knowledge and the personality to do the dual role” — acting as the city attorney and running that department.
Shelly Petrolia thanked him for making her commissioner’s job easier to do.
Commissioner Mitch Katz said: “A lot of times you tell me what I don’t want to hear. But you are willing to explain why.”
Lohman replied, “It’s never wrong to ask a question.”
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