FORT PIERCE – A former St. Lucie County government attorney has turned down Fort Pierce’s offer to have him serve as interim municipal counsel.

Now facing the possibility of having no head city attorney beginning Sept. 11, the Fort Pierce City Commission has called a special meeting for 9 a.m. Monday to determine its next steps.

An agenda released by the city Thursday afternoon gave no explanation for Daniel S. McIntyre’s decision.

A determination about who might be tapped to take the city’s top legal job on an interim basis is one of two related actions commissioners will consider Monday. The commission also is expected to consider signing a contract to pay a private headhunting firm up to $30,950 to recruit and screen applicants to succeed incumbent City Attorney Sara Hedges.

The city also used the firm S. Renee Narlock & Associates, of Tallahassee, to hire Police Chief David Smith.

The commission voted 2-3 in June not to renew Hedges contract for another year following controversy surrounding the handling of an employee disciplinary matter and claims the city attorney’s office was difficult for employees and the public to deal with.

Broderick cast the lone no vote Aug. 10 when the other four commissioners decided to offer the interim job to McIntyre.

The city is facing a number of potentially complicated legal matters in the upcoming months. A citizen has filed suit against the city over the handling of the leasing of the popular, city-owned Little Jim bar/restaurant property on North Hutchinson Island. Other legal matters could be coming over downtown waterfront projects Crabby’s, Fisherman’s Wharf and King’s Landing.

According to the recruiting contract up for approval Monday, Narlock & Associates predicts it could take 16 weeks before Hedges’ successor is selected.

Attorney John Anastasio, one-time counsel to former Port St. Lucie Mayor JoAnn Faiella, was the only other person brought to the commission for the interim appointment when McIntyre was selected.

Monday’s special 9 a.m. meeting convenes in the commission chambers at Fort Pierce City Hall.