City to pay $2000 for historical assessment

Historic City News reporters regularly review the “consent agenda” items prior to public meetings of St Augustine City Commission; often there are payments to private entities, agreements, and actions that have a financial impact on local residents that are approved for the City Manager without public discussion before the Commission.

At the regular business meeting Monday evening, one item on the consent agenda is the approval of an invoice for professional services from Susan R. Parker, Ph.D. for research and historical assessment of documents regarding the Whetstone v. City of St. Augustine pending lawsuit.

Assistant City Attorney Isabelle Lopez has reviewed the statement and approved the invoice from Parker in the amount of $1,955.

Unless it is pulled by one of the commissioners during the meeting Monday night, there will be no discussion on the need for the services performed, the extent of the “research” done, and the usefulness of Parker’s “assessment of documents” in the legal action.