Council to eye city judge contract

Maricopa is slowly divesting itself from the fallout of Scott Sulley after more than a year of rearranging local court management.

Another step in stabilizing what has been a transient situation could be taken tonight.

Since incorporation, Sulley was presiding judge for the city of Maricopa at the same time he was justice of the peace for the Maricopa/Stanfield Justice Court. After a December 2013 audit found disarray in record-keeping and management in the JP court, he was removed from that court and resigned from the municipal court.

Both courts had temporary judges assigned while staff sorted out the situation. In October, one of those judges, Tresa Georgini, was given a six-month contract to be interim presiding judge in the municipal court. That contract runs out this month.

Tonight, the Maricopa City Council will decide whether to offer Georgini a six-month, $24,000 contract as presiding judge, with no “interim” wording attached. The discussion is on the action agenda with the possibility of an executive session as well.

(In the JP court, Lyle Riggs was elected in November, and Sulley was eventually disbarred.)

The council meeting begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

The regular agenda also includes an application for a state Community Development Block Grant. Previous discussions for the allocation of such a grant have included domestic water improvements (Fire Hydrants Phase II), lighting in the Heritage District and acquisition and demolition in the Heritage District.