Maitland lobbyist lobbies to keep his job

Maitland’s state lobbyist lobbied to keep his job on Monday, convincing the City Council to extend his contract representing the city for two more years. It’s a job that Maitland residents pay him to do at a per capita rate higher – in some cases double – what other cities pay.

At the same meeting, the Council voted unanimously to approve a budget that removed all funding for its federal lobbyist firm, which represented the city’s interests in Washington, D.C. at $60,000 a year.

Louis Rotundo is contracted to keep tabs on Tallahassee as the city’s state lobbyist. Rotundo, who’s worked for the city as a consultant and lobbyist since 1995, has seen a $2,500 raise in salary every year since 2010. That pattern will end in 2017, as the Council voted to keep his salary stagnant for the next two years at $54,504. Adding in his approved expense budget, Rotundo’s total salary from the city will be $58,304.

Councilman Mike Thomas cast the sole vote against Rotundo’s contract renewal. It’s been six years since the city last put its state lobbying contract out to bid, Thomas said, and it’s time to reevaluate who and how much the city should be paying for lobbying.

“I think it’s just good business, and if Louis is the strongest person then he’ll win and I’ll vote for him,” Thomas said.

Thomas said he is uncomfortable with the fact that Maitland residents are paying double per capita what residents in other cities pay for lobbying services. He pointed to Altamonte Springs as an example. Altamonte, which is home to 41,000 residents, budgets $64,000 for legislative consulting – according to its proposed 2017 budget – amounting to roughly $1.56 paid per resident. In Maitland, with a population of 17,000, the number paid per resident for state lobbying is about $3.42.

Next door in Winter Park, which houses 29,000 residents, the city budgeted $60,000 for a state lobbyist in 2017, amounting to roughly $2.06 per resident. The city also budgeted an additional $42,000 for a federal lobbyist.

“We’re charging our residents more than twice what other residents are paying for lobbyists,” Thomas said. “…Why is that? And who could come forward and give us another alternative?”

Members of the public spoke in favor of Rotundo, saying his cost is worth his benefit.

“I think if we let him get away we're letting a treasure get away,” said resident Kay Yeuell.

“I look at Louis as our ambassador,” added resident Bill Randolph. “…He's our eyes and ears.”

The last time Rotundo’s contract was renewed in 2013 for three years, Councilwoman Bev Reponen questioned the tradition of giving him an automatic $2,500 raise each year. She brought up the issue again on Monday.

“What bothers me is no other employee in the city gets an automatic increase,” she said.

With a 4-1 vote, those annual increases ended, and Rotundo’s contract extended for two years. The city will consider putting the contract out to bid before the next renewal.