Eileen BlackwoodBURLINGTON, Vt. -
A first for Burlington-- a woman is set to serve as city attorney.
Monday, Mayor Miro Weinberger, D-Burlington, appointed private practice attorney Eileen Blackwood to take over for outgoing city attorney Ken Schatz. Blackwood has more than 25 years of experience and served as president of the Vermont Bar Association. If approved by the City Council next week, she will become the first woman to hold Burlington's top legal post.
"This seems to be an optimistic and exciting time for the city of Burlington and I'm really looking forward to joining Mayor Weinberger's leadership team and being a part of this city's wonderful new challenges," Blackwood said.
Blackwood is expected to begin her new role in late August. She says she's excited by the challenge of tackling issues like the Burlington Telecom lawsuit.
Weinberger says he will ask the City Council to approve Blackwood's salary at a slightly lower rate than that of the current city attorney.
This is Weinberger's second appointee to the city attorney position. His first was his close friend Ian Carleton. The City Council resisted the mayor's request for a higher salary and Carleton removed himself from consideration.
