Deltona attorney under fire again

BEACON PHOTO/AL EVERSON
George Trovato

By Al Everson
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Jun 20, 2009 - 7:44:02am

Controversy is once again rocking Deltona, as the city’s chief legal officer is at the center of a new storm over his role in a private law firm.

Three months after surviving an ouster attempt by one city commissioner, City Attorney George Trovato found himself under renewed attack June 15.

“Mr. Trovato has a side business,” Commissioner Zenaida Denizac charged, as she discussed the city attorney’s upcoming annual evaluation. “If he is running a business in a residential dwelling ... it raises questions. ... How can he work normal hours under a city contract?”

Denizac declined to move for Trovato’s firing. She said she would “throw it right back” to the commissioners who support his continued service.

At the meeting, Trovato did not respond to Denizac’s criticism, but in an interview with The Beacon, he said he had formed a law firm to help people who are going through financial hardships.

“Back in 2006, I created a company, and I had to create a company to open a trust account,” Trovato said. “Generally, what I do is pro bono work for a lot of people in the community. I help people out, and they are often in bankruptcy. I help a lot of people out.”

The law firm is known as the Principle Legal Offices P.A.

The Latin term pro bono — meaning “for good” — refers to legal services provided at no charge.

Trovato said his pro bono work is separate from his duties as Deltona’s city attorney. He said he often works overtime at City Hall, as part of a very busy career.

“I’m here, generally miss lunch most of the time. I’m here until 10 o’clock most nights,” he said.

“Do I have clients? Absolutely,” Trovato said, describing his clients as those needing help with such matters as foreclosures and divorces.

Trovato further claimed he had not kept his private work a secret from the “City Commission, but disclosed it during his pre-employment interview.

They asked me, Did I own a business? And I said yes,” Trovato said. “It’s not a nonprofit, but I actually don’t make a profit. ... This was intended to help people who can’t afford an attorney.”

Principle Legal Offices’ Web site shows an e-mail response option, telephone numbers, and post-office boxes in Enterprise and Daytona Beach for those who write or send items via conventional mail.

No physical address is listed, but Trovato said the office is located at 1709 Providence Blvd. However, he does not welcome walk-in business, he added.

“I don’t want people to think they can go there and talk to a lawyer. It’s a home,” he said.

The City Commission last year tapped Trovato as Deltona’s full-time city attorney, several weeks after voting to fire Roland Blossom. Trovato’s annual salary is currently $123,760.

Ironically, Blossom had fired Trovato as assistant city attorney, and Trovato was working in a risk-management job at City Hall when he was hired to replace Blossom.

In both the firing of Blossom and the hiring of Trovato, the commission voted 4-3. The split was — and remains — the same as for other controversial decisions since the 2007 municipal election.

The majority faction consists of Mayor Dennis Mulder, Vice Mayor Michael Carmolingo and Commissioners Janet Deyette and Paul Treusch, while Commissioners Denizac, Michele McFall-Conte and Herb Zischkau form the minority.

Zischkau, a lawyer himself, has been one of Trovato’s most persistent critics. He pressed unsuccessfully for Trovato’s dismissal in mid-March, but could not rally enough support from fellow commissioners. Zischkau commented with Denizac at the June 15 meeting.

“I feel badly about this, because every once in a while Mr. Trovato does something right,” Zischkau said. “We’re the client, and we are not being adequately served, and that has to stop.”

The commission is slated to review Trovato’s work record and duty performance at its July 6 meeting. Favorable ratings of governmental attorneys often result in pay raises.

— al@beacononlinenews.com

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