Council Fires City Attorney, Promotes Aide

The South Pasadena City Council has ousted City Atty. Edward W. Lee and chosen his deputy, Judith Roberts, to replace him, officials announced Monday.

The City Council voted 4 to 0 to appoint Roberts, assistant city attorney since 1994, during a special meeting Friday night, said city officials. Councilman Paul Zee was absent.

Roberts was hired after the council held a closed-session review of Lee, a partner in Oliver, Vose, Sandifer, Murphy & Lee, which the city contracted with for attorney services, and decided to “let him go,” said Interim City Manager Linda Holmes.

“They never told me why. They never said anything about the quality of service,” said Lee, city attorney since 1991, whose firm has represented the city for 12 years.

Last week, after the city sent a memorandum to Oliver & Vose indicating that it wanted Roberts, an associate there, to become city attorney, the firm asked Roberts to leave, Lee and Holmes said.

Roberts said Monday that she is talking to other law firms now that might become the city’s new contractor for legal services. Roberts also has been assistant city attorney for Calabasas, Pomona and South Gate, Holmes said.

“Ms. Roberts’ excellent background in environmental planning was a major factor in the City Council’s decision to promote her to city attorney,” said Mayor Dorothy Cohen.