In a season when peace and goodwill are supposed to be evident, Deltona’s government remains divided and troubled amid harsh words from critics.
Just in time for Christmas and just minutes before its last meeting of 2023 ended, City Attorney Marsha Segal-George survived an attempt to oust her. The City Commission Dec. 11 voted down a call to terminate her as the city’s chief legal officer, according to the motion offered by Mayor Santiago Avila Jr. Avila cited as his reason for wanting Segal-George out “the lack of a contract.”
“We’ve been waiting 12 months,” the mayor said, referring to the lack of an agreement — which she was supposed to draft and submit to the commission for approval.
Avila’s motion set a 60-day transition for Segal-George to wind down her work at City Hall and for the city administration to solicit and receive proposals from other lawyers or law firms interested in handling Deltona’s legal needs.
Avila also said Segal-George was not giving adequate legal advice, often resorting to, “I don’t know.”
Avila’s motion came quickly after Vice Mayor Jody Lee Storozuk’s motion to oust Segal-George “90 days from today” had failed to get a second.
Storozuk readily seconded the mayor’s motion, which prompted little debate.
“She’s been dealing with some personal issues, and it’s taking a toll,” Storozuk said, referring to Segal-George.
Commissioners did not discuss the “personal issues.” Segal-George remained mostly silent throughout the meeting.
For months, Segal-George has been a frequent target of vitriolic attacks by some regular attendees at commission meetings. Oft-heard complaints about her legal advice and her billings resound in the meeting chamber, as well as her not having an agreement specifying her working arrangements and compensation.
Public records released by the Deltona City Clerk’s Office indicate Segal-George has billed the city for $319,164 between April and Dec. 6.
When the commission voted, the count was 4-2 against firing Segal-George. Avila and Storozuk were outnumbered by Commissioners Maritza Avila-Vazquez, Anita Bradford, Stephen Colwell and Dana McCool. Commissioner Tom Burbank was absent.
After the decision, McCool spoke about her opposition to the motion to terminate Segal-George.
“I did not vote for it because I don’t think that’s the way to go out,” McCool said. “I have asked Marsha to examine herself. It’s no secret that she is dealing with some issues.”
Segal-George ought “not to be terminated unceremoniously,” McCool said, because of her legacy and knowledge of Deltona’s history and its current state of affairs. McCool added she has asked Segal-George for “an alternative plan” for catching up on mounting legal work for the city.
“At the beginning of the year, I would like to see that addressed,” McCool said.
Segal-George has gained a great deal of institutional knowledge of Deltona over the past few years, beginning when Fowler Feeney served as the city’s legal agency.
The City Commission hired Segal-George in March, after Deltona’s contract with the Orlando law firm of Fowler, Feeney & Associates, P.A., was terminated. Dissatisfied with Fowler Feeney, the City Commission decided in December 2022 to sever its relationship with the firm, effective in March 2023. Then a member of the Fowler Feeney partnership, Segal-George, as a single competitor, was tapped to serve as city attorney when she submitted the lowest hourly rate bid — $150 — for the post.
As a member of the firm, Segal-George had often attended commission meetings and given legal advice when asked.
Adjusting to change
Due to unspecified health problems, City Commissioner Anita Bradford has been missing from recent meetings of the Deltona City Commission.
Bradford, who is having trouble speaking, joins the meetings remotely, thus enabling her to take part in the debate and to vote on motions.
Bradford was elected in 2016 to represent Deltona’s District 2, which covers the northwest part of the sprawling city. She was re-elected in 2020 without opposition, and her current term ends in November 2024. Deltona’s charter sets a limit of two consecutive terms for members of the City Commission, and thus she may not run for a third term next year. She could run to represent her district in 2028, or she could vie for mayor in 2026.
— Al Everson
