Mayor Alex Morse hopes to have a new solicitor appointed and confirmed by early March.
Holyoke City Solicitor Elizabeth Rodriguez-Ross has announced her resignation, effective Feb. 1.
HOLYOKE — City Solicitor Elizabeth Rodriguez-Ross, who was unable to shake criticism from some councilors about working on her private-practice cases, will resign effective Feb. 1 after a year on the job.
Mayor Alex B. Morse announced the resignation Friday. He appointed staff lawyer Elizabeth White acting solicitor effective Feb. 4 and said he has begun searching for a permanent replacement.
"It is with great sadness that I submit my letter of resignation," Rodriguez-Ross wrote in a Friday letter to Morse. "For personal and professional reasons I have decided that I need to return to my private practice.
"Thank you for giving me this unbelievable opportunity to serve the city I love. It has been very exciting being part of a team working to make Holyoke a more equitable, vibrant, productive city for all of our residents," she wrote.
Morse said he was sad to lose Rodriguez-Ross, known by the nickname "Lisa," but understood she had to make a difficult decision and praised her work.
"There is no doubt in my mind that she has played an invaluable role in the progress made by my administration over the past year, and I cannot thank her enough for her service to our city," Morse said.
"The city of Holyoke is lucky to have had such an excellent and qualified attorney on its side, and I have no doubt that she has set the bar high for whoever will take her place. I wish her nothing but the best in her future endeavors," he said.
The city solicitor is appointed by the mayor subject to City Council confirmation. The job pays up to $74,000 a year and the solicitor must be a city resident, with time allowed for a non-Holyoker to move here.
Morse said he will receive cover letters and resumes from applicants until Feb. 8. He hopes to submit an appointee to the council by mid-February and have a new solicitor working by late February or early March, he said.
During hearings that resulted in the City Council confirming her by a vote of 10-4 on Feb. 21, councilors criticized her plan to reserve Thursdays to work on cases from her private practice from which judges had refused to release her. She worked nights and weekends to ensure all city work got done, she said.
Councilor Todd A. McGee filed an order in May, later withdrawn, to cut the yearly salary of the solicitor to $40,000 from the current $70,000 because he said no one can devote effort necessary to two full-time jobs.
Councilor at Large Aaron M. Vega was among those who said a traditional following of a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. shift was less important than a solicitor who worked hard at the job, including nights and weekends, which is what Rodriguez-Ross did.
The council in November established an ordinance that bans the solicitor from doing non-city work in court, but still allows for private-practice, after-hours work like reviewing a contract for someone.
Council President Kevin A. Jourdain said Monday the ordinance was intended to update the job description of city solicitor, which used to be a part-time position, not single out Rodriguez-Ross.
Nevertheless, said Jourdain, who praised Rodriguez-Ross, councilors will raise the full-time question and take note of the new ordinance in the confirmation hearing for Morse's next choice for city solicitor.
"I liked Lisa. I didn't vote for her, back last year, because I had my concerns about the full-time issue. But overall, I enjoyed working with her. I have nothing negative to say," Jourdain said.