Port St. Lucie council picks interim city attorney, search firm to fill troubled position

Wicker Perlis, Treasure Coast Newspapers
Updated ·4 min read

Editor's note: This article was revised from its original version to correct Richard Berrios' title.

PORT ST. LUCIE — The search for a fifth city attorney in the last decade will soon begin, after the City Council picked a search firm Monday and named an interim city attorney.

The new leader of the city's legal arm will be tasked with steadying a ship that has been notably rocky since the departure of longtime City Attorney Roger Orr — who retired in 2014 amid a Sunshine Law violation scandal after 23 years on the job.

The man given the helm, at least for now, is Deputy City Attorney Richard Berrios, who will replace current City Attorney James Stokes and begin Friday in the interim position.

Berrios already has been representing the City Attorney's Office at council meetings since Stokes announced earlier this year he would step down, but with Stokes' term officially ending Thursday, the council moved to make Berrios the interim.

Revolving door

Orr's replacement, Pam Booker, lasted less than two years before being fired by the council. A TC Palm investigation found Booker spent more than double the amount of her predecessor on outside counsel during a similar period of time.

Booker was replaced by Reggie Osenton, who also lasted less than two years. Osenton resigned in 2018 amid a human resources investigation that found he allowed sexist workplace behavior and language in official job descriptions.

More: Port St. Lucie to seek fifth city attorney in five years after negotiations with Stokes fail

More: Fired Port St. Lucie city attorney splurged on outside legal help

More: Port St. Lucie city attorney resigns after investigation into sexist requirement in job criteria

The council then turned to Stokes on a one-year interim basis. Stokes later was offered the position permanently. He eventually accepted, after initially turning it down.

Though longer than his predecessors, Stokes' tenure wouldn't be without controversy either. Dating back to his days as interim, questions emerged about his ability to split time between city business and his own legal practice.

Stokes on the hot seat

Then, in December, Vice Mayor Jolien Caraballo said Stokes should be fired, while declining to explain why. In January, a Palm Bay man was indicted on three felony charges of defrauding the city and using Stokes' personal information without his consent, according to court documents. It is unknown if that incident was related to Caraballo's earlier calls for his ouster.

When Stokes announced he would be stepping down earlier this year, he cited a growing mediation business, a reasoning Caraballo also referenced following Monday's meeting.

Now, Berrios will replace Stokes, at least on an interim basis.

The turmoil has led councilmembers to go in a different direction with the search process. In recent meetings, multiple members tasked City Manager Jesus Merejo with narrowing down search-firm options but not to consider the firm used in previous searches.

Ultimately, Tallahassee-based S. Renée Narloch and Associates was picked for what is expected to be a four- to six-month search.

More: Port St. Lucie to seek fifth city attorney in five years after negotiations with Stokes fail

More: Port St. Lucie city attorney on the hot seat; vice mayor stays mum on her call to fire him

More: PSL potentially defrauded by former contractor, who allegedly used city attorney I.D.

Caraballo initially spoke in opposition to giving Berrios the interim title, though she said it had nothing to do with his qualifications. The vice mayor worried that appointing an interim, rather than hiring an outside law firm, might prevent some candidates from applying for the job. Berrios has indicated that he is interested in applying.

"There could be a potential implication that we've already selected, and I don't want that. I think you're extremely capable," she told Berrios. "I think you can do the job."

Port St. Lucie City Councilwoman Jolien Caraballo has risen through the ranks at the Florida League of Cities and will serve a one-year term as the organization's president.
Port St. Lucie City Councilwoman Jolien Caraballo has risen through the ranks at the Florida League of Cities and will serve a one-year term as the organization's president.

Bestowing Berrios with the interim title could also force him to accept a demotion or leave the city if he does not become the permanent city attorney, Caraballo warned.

Other members of the council, however, voiced concern that an outside firm would be far more expensive and expressed confidence in the in-house option.

"I am very concerned about cost," Councilman Anthony Bonna said, adding that even with a significant raise, Berrios would be cheaper. "If we engage him as an interim city attorney it should be very clear that he has no advantage, no expectations."

Port St. Lucie Mayor Shannon Martin (center) along with Councilman Dave Pickett (left) and Coundilman Anthony Bonna are seen during a Port St. Lucie City Council meeting with on Monday, July 25, 2022, in the council chambers Port St. Lucie.
Port St. Lucie Mayor Shannon Martin (center) along with Councilman Dave Pickett (left) and Coundilman Anthony Bonna are seen during a Port St. Lucie City Council meeting with on Monday, July 25, 2022, in the council chambers Port St. Lucie.

Similar comments came from Councilman David Pickett.

"I can't in good conscience recommend an outside firm when we have a perfectly capable person in-house," Pickett said.

Ultimately, the council unanimously approved of Berrios.

Wicker Perlis is TCPalm's Watchdog Reporter for St. Lucie County. You can reach him at wicker.perlis@tcpalm.com and 504-331-0516.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Port St. Lucie searching for fifth city attorney in less than 10 years