SUFFOLK
Former assessor Maria Kattmann has settled her lawsuit against the city, her lawyer said Tuesday.
Lisa Bertini, the attorney, did not disclose terms of the agreement. She said Kattmann would not comment.
"We're pleased, and that's all I'm going to talk about," Bertini said. "She's decided to move on."
Representatives for the city, including Mayor Linda Johnson, would not comment.
Kattmann filed her lawsuit after the City Council voted unanimously May 7 to fire her. The assessor is one of four council-appointed positions. She claimed breach of contract and retaliatory discharge in violation of public policy. The latter claim accused the City Council of firing her in part because of complaints from property owners over their new assessments this spring.
She also accused the city of wrongfully excluding her from an executive level 401(a) compensation plan. Her lawsuit said she was fired partly because she repeatedly asked questions about it.
The city denied the claims.
The c ouncil fired Kattmann after discussing the matter in a closed meeting and adjourned without a public comment. The action followed weeks of complaints from some residents about large increases to assessments, many on waterfront properties.
Kattmann told the council before she was fired that she had focused on adjusting the assessments on waterfront properties because they had fallen out of line with the rest of the city. If nothing was done, she argued, the tax burden would skew too heavily toward those who own more modestly priced homes.
Council members questioned Kattmann's methods. Overall, according to preliminary figures, residential assessments rose about 4.4 percent. Many neighborhoods saw a negative change from last year.
Hundreds of people appealed their assessments. The final adjusted figures have not yet been released by the assessor's office.
Dave Forster, (757) 222-5563, dave.forster@pilotonline.com
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Another PAYOFF from Suffolk Council...
This situation is just the swan song in Suffolk, under a Mayor and Council that has lost control and perspective. Their policy of solving problems by obviscation, character assassination, and untruths has bitten them in this situation and others. It now looks like we will have to pay (again) for such character flaws in our leaders, with higher taxes. The City of Suffolk is falling into the abyss, by this utter lack of leadership. Our Mayor seems only to pander for accolades and credit, while our City Manager seems to be so unsure that she is frozen into inaction, and the senior staff has been gutted and lacks any reasonable level of insight or experience to do the job.
As a result, this settlement with the Assessor is on par with most of the actions and decisions of our dysfunctional Mayor and City Manager. We need help in November to select a new MAYOR and to set a new course… The question to ask is: WILL WE!!!???
Roger A. Leonard, MPA
Suffolk…
fired
let me see im one of many that was fired by the city of suffolk , won my case and was still screwed by the city who didnt honor their on policy and give me what was won and didn't pay me to be quite so maria must have something good on them for them to settle.she was a lucky one.
Maria Kattmann has settled her lawsuit against the city...
...what ever the settlement, I'm sure it wasn't enough to make up for the disruption the City has caused in her life! See you at Starbucks!
Pay-Off!
This is another example how Suffolk City Council PAYS to keep people SILENT. Kattmann knew she pursued court action against the City Council. She would receive a settlement, because other fired City Employees have been PAID for their SILENCE! THIS IS BACK DOOR POLITICS AT IT'S BEST!
"It's NOT a good time to be in Suffolk!"
TAX $
When our tax dollors are spent for anything it should be available to the puplic and if it isn't that should be a crime in it self !!!!
The settlement
Like most jurisdictions in these kinds of suits, Suffolk decided it was cheaper to settle than fight it in court. Of course, the taxpayers pay, or do they? A good question to ask is if the city's insurance company and its lawyers actually decided to settle. That happens more often than people know. Surely the city can answer that question. If the answer is no the insurance company wasn't involved, then taxpayers have a right and the city has a duty to tell what the cash settlement was. Ovioulsy, there was some merit to the suit because a circuit court judge allowed it to go forward. This is ugly politics at its best. But voters continue to re-elect some of the same tired faces and good ole' boys.
Good for Her!!!!
Glad she won!!!! Hope she got alot of money from the Good Ole Boys Network!!!!!!!
Firing
Maybe the new city manager could deduct the settlement from the members of city council who vote to fired her. Lets make them responsible for their mistakes. This would be a good subject for the upcoming Taste of Suffolk to be held on Sept 13th.
what's it matter?
David...All it's going to do is get your blood pressure up. They are untouchable and they know it. Why do you think they campaign so hard to get the positions on Council? Those people have no idea how to conduct personell matters and everytime it winds up costing the citizens of Suffolk some "undisclosed" amount of money that could go to teachers, fire personell and/or police. I suggest you go to the next Council meeting, stand up and ask. Watch how quickly one of Suffolk's finest escort you to the nearest exit! Any matter concerning the wrongful actions of a City Council that result in a payment from the City's checkbook should not be undisclosed so we the voting citizens can make proper decisions next time, or should I say different decisions.
HOW MUCH
I believe the citizens of Suffolk have a right to know what the pay off was for another screw-up by city council. How much did it cost the taxpayers this time? The citizens of Suffolk should not let this die and the voters should remember how much the city has paid the last couple of years to get rid of employees.