City attorney questioning unhappy staff

Denis Fitzgibbons, the city attorney, “has solicited additional information” from complainants who reportedly told City Manager Brenda Fischer they were dissatisfied with Phoenix attorney Bill Sims’ investigation into Maricopa City Councilman Alan Marchione, according to an email from Maricopa Public Information Officer LaTricia Woods.

“The city attorney has solicited additional information from those that communicated concerns with the final report to the city manager,” an emailed statement from the city attorney said. “Once the information has been obtained, it will be presented to the city council for direction on how to proceed.”

So far, the city has incurred $10,852 in fees from Sims as of July 31, said Tina L. Vannucci, an attorney with Fitzgibbons Law Office.

The report resulted from Sims’ independent investigation into a complaint written by Fischer outlining six separate incidents of Marchione’s workplace conduct. 

Fischer told InMaricopa.com she was dissatisfied as a complainant because her comments from interviews with Sims were excluded from the report. 

Fischer said her remarks weren’t included because she would not say she and Marchione had a personal friendship, something Marchione contended. Fischer said when she retained her own attorney she was excluded entirely from the process.

The city manager also said several employees had come to her and said they were unhappy with the report. 

Sims also is investigating another complaint filed separately by Councilwoman Julia Gusse.