Hawthorne joins ‘home rule’ defense

Hawthorne added its name to the long list of cities fighting back against a lawsuit challenging the ‘home rule’ amendment slated for the November ballot.

Archer, LaCrosse, Micanopy, Waldo and High Springs have all already joined the defense started by Gainesville. And Newberry and Alachua will vote on the issue on Aug. 23.

The ‘home rule’ amendment is designed to give more autonomy to the cities by requiring that a majority of the city’s residents vote to approve future charter amendments before they go in effect in their respective towns.

Dwight E. Adams, a University of Florida professor, is plaintiff in the lawsuit and will be represented by Joseph Little. The lawsuit aims to take the ‘home rule’ amendment off the ballot or make it void, if voted on and adopted.

Half of the legal costs will be covered by the Alachua County League of Cities, and the other have will be divided among the other cities, with each city paying a fee based on population and Alachua County League of Cities dues.

If all cities participate, Gainesville will pay the most at about $2,088, and LaCrosse will pay the least at about $348. Hawthorne will pay $696.

These figures are based on the Gainesville attorney’s estimate that the defense will take 160 hours, charged at $100 per hour.

Hawthorne approved the measure quickly with only one dissenting vote, cast by Commissioner William Carlton.

Vice Mayor Matt Surrency said the cost is worth joining the other cities in combating the lawsuit.

“We’re trying to improve the image of Hawthorne,” Surrency said. “This is one way to do that.”

Carlton said he voted against the measure because he was concerned the city wouldn’t have the money to pay for the lawsuit.

The figure of $696 is only an estimate. The cost could go up or down, depending on the amount of time the attorney charges fighting the lawsuit.

City Manager Ed Smyth said Hawthorne doesn’t have any money budgeted to pay for the $696 fee for the current fiscal year, but it’s currently budgeting $10,000 for attorney fees for the upcoming fiscal year, which starts on Oct. 1.