Top city lawyer leaving

Jane Prendergast has the story here


Here is McNeil's email:


The purpose of this email is to announce that I am leaving the Solicitor’s Office effective February 23, 2008. I am leaving to embark upon a new and exciting opportunity as Vice President for Governmental Affairs for the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce. I am thrilled and looking forward to the excitement my position will bring, but I am sad to leave behind the working relationships and many friendships I have developed during my tenure with the City of Cincinnati.

Thank you to all of you in the Solicitor's Office for all the many accomplishments over the last almost six years. I thank you for the opportunity to work with a Real Estate Division that successfully generated over $1,700,000 in revenue for the City from the sale of City-owned property. I am proud to be part of creating and establishing the new Claims, Collection, and Recovery Section, within the Litigation Division, which collected revenue of over $480,000 last year . The Economic Development and General Counsel Divisions are to be commended for their hard work and contribution to major projects like the Banks, MSD Consent Decree, CCA, and the new Fountain Square. The Labor and Employment Division has distinguished themselves with a rare victory appealing an arbitrator's decision upheld in the Supreme Court and for turning the trend to victories at arbitration. Settlements likes the Collaborative, Fort Washington Way and Friendship Park will be hallmarks in the City's history and we made those settlements happen. Lastly, to the Prosecutor’s Office, who seldom get recognized and appreciated for their relentless dedication and consistent hard work, I thank you for allowing me to be part of one the most creative and meaningful efforts to reduce gun violence with the creation, production and distribution of the Hard-wear DVD. The Prosecutor's Office and the Office of Administrative Hearings both continuously, positively impact the quality of life for the citizens of Cincinnati with their work enforcing civil code violations, the Housing Docket, and Community Prosecution. A special thank you to my assistant for making every challenge easy and every day brighter.

I wish everyone in the Solicitor's Office both personal and professional success and thank you again for your service to the citizens of Cincinnati. I will be working with the Manager’s Office to create a smooth transition between my departure and my successor’s arrival.