Firm clears official

Law office’s report finds no bias, but ‘a pattern of breaching our city charter’

HALLANDALE BEACH Commissioner Keith London thisweekwas cleared by an outside law firm of accusations of racial and gender discrimination.

City Attorney Lynn Whitfeld, who is black, leveled the allegations in February 2015, after learningLondonplanned to push for her termination. At the time, London said he had lost confidence in Whitfeld’s ability to give impartial advice to her commission bosses.

London declined commentTuesday, saying he had not yet read the report.

“I’m happy he’s been vindicated,” Commissioner Michele Lazarow said. “I expected him to be. I have never accusation like that before about London.”

The year-long investigation, released Tuesday and handled by the Bryant Miller Olive law firm, cost taxpayers more than $100,000, city records show.

“There is no factual support to find that Commissioner London’s action in wanting to place Ms. Whitfield’s contract on the commission agenda was motivated by race or gender,” the report said. Investigators also found London had no reason to terminate Whitfield for cause.

Whitfield, who had also accused London of creating a hostile workplace, declined comment. She has been Hallandale’s city attorney since December 2011.

Though investigators cleared London, they took him to task for rubbing people the wrong way. They quoted his critics, who accused him of being aggressive, intimidating and rude. heard an Commissioner

The report urges London to express opinions in a professional manner.

Mayor Joy Cooper says she plans to hold a special meetingFeb. 29 at 6 p.m. to discuss the report.

“The report does not find discrimination based on gender or race,” Cooper said. “But it does showa pattern of breaching our city charter.”

InHallandale, the commission hires and fires the city manager and city attorney, but is forbidden by the charter from giving direction to their staff.

In the report, former City Manager Renee Miller alleges London spoke directly with staff rather than coming to her — a claim denied by London.

“We can not remove a commissioner,” said Cooper, a longtime rival of London’s. “We can censure a commissioner. That is somethingwe will have to discuss.’’

sbryan@tribpub.com or 954-356-4554

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