Segerblom offered position in city detention services

Jace Radke

Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003 | 11:05 a.m.

Sharon Segerblom, the former director of Las Vegas' Neighborhood Services Department, has been offered a job at the city jail after being visited at her home by Mayor Oscar Goodman and City Attorney Brad Jerbic on Monday night.

Laura FitzSimmons, Segerblom's attorney, said that the meeting involved her, Segerblom and Jerbic, and that Goodman stopped by before the meeting started.

"He basically wished (Segerblom) well and left, and we sat down with Brad," FitzSimmons said. "I think the mayor is concerned about Sharon because he's worked with her for a long time, but he was only there for a short time.

"I thought it was kind of nice because somebody was finally talking to her."

Goodman said that he was aware that Jerbic was going to talk to Segerblom about a potential resolution and decided to stop by.

"I just wanted to tell her how important it was for her to carefully listen to the city attorney and the potential resolution," Goodman said. "I told her I wanted to put this behind us and move forward."

Goodman said he has talked to Segerblom on occasion in the form of "friendly chats" when he takes his morning walks around the neighborhood -- Goodman and his wife live in the same neighborhood as Segerblom and her husband, Richard, a well-known wrongful termination attorney. Goodman said he was probably at the Segerblom home for about 10 minutes Monday.

FitzSimmons said Segerblom has had no contact with anyone from the city and is talking to no one with the exception of Jerbic and FitzSimmons.

Two city investigations found that Segerblom did not properly supervise Assemblyman Wendell Williams in his job with Neighborhood Services. Williams billed the city for hours he didn't work while he was serving in the Legislature and ran up personal calls on his city-issued cell phone.

City officials said Tuesday that Williams was terminated, and that Segerblom, who has been demoted and is on unspecified leave, will be given an opportunity to continue to be employed by the city.

FitzSimmons said that details regarding a possible job for Segerblom at the city jail would have to be worked out should she choose to take the job.

"I think that the mayor wants to see this worked out without litigation," FitzSimmons said.

Goodman said he did not know what the job at the jail would be, but said he felt it would be a fair offer.

"(Segerblom) is the person who founded, designed and nurtured the Neighborhood Services enforcement division, and I see it as a natural fit to marry those skills with detention services," Goodman said.

Goodman added that as far as he knew Segerblom has always been responsive to him and the City Council.

"This hasn't been a good time for the city, but I think we now have some good policy recommendations, and the city can go forward," Goodman said.

FitzSimmons said that Segerblom, who has two children in college, would have to weigh the offer and what she needs to do for her family.

She added that the offer of another job may be a way for the city manager's office to get around having to have the City Council ratify Segerblom's termination. According to city charter, the council must ratify the hiring and firing of appointed employees.

FitzSimmons, who appeared Tuesday on "Face to Face With Jon Ralston" on Las Vegas One, Cox cable channels 1 and 19, said that she would be surprised if the city manager could get the needed votes from the city council to ratify Segerblom's firing.

Councilman Gary Reese said he had no comment on Segerblom's situation, except that she is "a remarkable department head," and he's been told that Orlando Sanchez, the head of building services for the city, has been named acting director of the Neighborhood Services Department.

Sun reporter

Dan Kulin contributed to this story.