Milton City Council OK's attorney's call to seek sanctions against Mayor Heather Lindsay

A city council majority that has consistently supported him in an ongoing feud with Mayor Heather Lindsay gave Milton City Attorney and state Rep. Alex Andrade the go ahead Thursday to explore sanctions against her for possible crimes and what Andrade has labeled "harmful, aggressive and erratic conduct."

In a memorandum compiled at the request of Councilman Jeff Snow, Lindsay's most vocal critic, Andrade alleged the mayor had perjured herself by making false statements in a sworn document while filing a bar complaint against him.

The document turned into the city cites 12 specific instances within Lindsay's bar complaint that Andrade calls out as lies.

Lindsay's bar complaint stated Andrade "was obstructive and misleading in his communication during Milton's effort to hire [a] city manager in July 2023."

Among the claims made that Andrade cited as dishonest was one that he'd violated city policy to launch an investigation into the actions of since terminated City Clerk Dawn Molinero.

Another statement pointed out by Andrade as an example of perjured testimony was Lindsay's assertion he was "careful to share only select emails with a member of the press" following former City Manager Scott Collins' decision to withdraw from consideration from the job he would eventually take.

"There is no evidence supporting the claim that I did anything other than comply with publicrecords requests fully and accurately," the memo states. "This accusation of criminal activity by Lindsay, madeunder penalty of perjury, is egregious."

Andrade also claims in the memo that the bar complaint Lindsay filed was made on behalf of the city, though the mayor never consulted with the council before filing it. Lindsay denied the complaint was filed on behalf of the city.

The Andrade memo lists three violations of state law that it says he believes Lindsay has committed. Those include official misconduct, corruption by threat against a public servant and "felonies involving breach of public trust by public officials."

"I do not believe that Lindsay is competent to continue serving as the city’s mayor," he states in concluding the memorandum. "Lindsay has violated her duty to the council on more than one occasion, and I do not believe she is capable of understanding the consequences of her actions."

More: Milton Mayor Heather Lindsay ousted from legislative liaison role after emails are made public

Lindsay herself remained silent during the board discussion, even as some members of the board piled on with their own grievances against her.

She spoke up at the end of the meeting to say she believed the city had more important things to consider, primarily construction of a new waste water treatment plant, than Andrade's list of grievances.

"I do deny that I committed any crime," she said.

She suggested a mediation at which she and Andrade could attempt to resolve their personal differences and alleviate "his anger towards me."

Though Thursday's City Council work session was not a public meeting at which matters coming before the board are voted upon, it was decided by board consensus that Andrade be given the go ahead to reach out to agencies that might consider taking action against Lindsay.

Andrade requested in the memo that the Florida Attorney General's Office and the Florida Commission on Ethics should be consulted on the issues pertaining to Lindsay's actions, but as a state representative he cannot reach out directly to those agencies, which he votes to fund.

He said Friday his next step in the matter regarding the mayor will be to seek council censure for her actions and recommend what agencies, including the First Judicial Circuit's State Attorney's Office, might properly be contacted for review of documents pertaining to the case at hand.

If found guilty of a criminal offense, Lindsay could face a governor's suspension from office.

Andrade said another attorney in his firm, a member of the city council or a senior member of city staff would be required to submit formal complaints to the Attorney General or Commission on Ethics.

Board members Mike Cusack and Marilynn Farrow, the two on the council who consistently side with the mayor in board disputes, called Andrade's memo retaliatory, a personal attack launched to get back at the mayor for filing the bar complaint, which was dismissed.

"You're using this memorandum against her," Farrow said.

The memo also accuses Lindsay of "referencing anonymous employee complaints then refusing to disclose them to be investigated" and makes note of her "overall disregard for the wellbeing of city employees."

Specifically Andrade cited the mayor's accusation that since-terminated Molinero had received multiple complaints from coworkers about Economic Development Director Ed Spears, but provided no record of the complaints. The memo states she did the same in making accusations against then-City Manager Randy Jorgenson.

It also alleges Lindsay failed to act appropriately when notified by Andrade of a grievance filed against her by a city staff member. There was discussion at the Thursday meeting of Lindsay having been accused of stalking a city employee.

"Lindsay’s treatment of members of staff has become abusive, toxic and professionally embarrassing," Andrade said in the memo.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Milton City Attorney Andrade seeks sanctions mayor Heather Lindsay