City Hall is maintaining a stony silence on a looming history-making contempt citation from the Ombudsman.But it has boosted its public relations support — even as Mayor Graeme Outerbridge and his Deputy Donal Smith impose a media blackout.Mr Outerbridge, Mr Smith and the Corporation itself were named in a filing at the Supreme Court registry in connection with contempt proceedings in relation to the Ombudsman’s investigation into City Hall.The Office of the Ombudsman initiated the proceedings on July 26.Mr Outerbridge and Mr Smith have refused to answer questions put to them by the Ombudsman who is conducting a systemic investigation into the operations of the municipality.It is understood that the dispute centres around the pair’s insistence that they have a legal representative sit in on the interview.Both Mr Outerbridge and Mr Smith are off the Island and Acting Mayor Gwyneth Rawlings said City Hall had no comment on the matter.The Royal Gazette understands that the two are expected to be back on the Island next week and have instructed staff not to respond to media inquiries in their absence.A series of other questions put directly to City Hall were met with a “no comment” e-mailed response.Besides a statement on the Ombudsman’s court action, we had also sought information on the Mayor and his Deputy’s return to the Island, and clarification of reports that the City is considering sending a five-person delegation to a meeting in the Republic of Colombia.In March, Ombudsman Arlene Brock launched an own motion systemic investigation into City Hall operations following concerns brought to her office about governance at the municipality.She said then that a particular focus would be the City’s handling of the waterfront development project.If a contempt of court hearing does go ahead it would be the first in the eight-year history of the Office of the Ombudsman.Ms Brock has initiated proceedings in 2006 when the Bermuda Housing Corporation refused to cooperate with her investigation. But the BHC backed down hours before the scheduled court hearing and the matter was resolved.Meanwhile City Hall has engaged public relations firm Troncossi to handle the waterfront redevelopment project.But City Hall CEO Ed Benevides would not confirm that when asked.“There are always discussions regarding the PR for the city. Our current firm is the Strafford Group,” he said.“If there is a decision to change from this we will advise the media accordingly.”Liz Tee, Troncossi’s managing director, however, confirmed a relationship with City Hall.“If you have a question relating to the waterfront, you can direct it to me,” she said.City Hall has steadfastly refused to answer questions on the waterfront since announcing Michael MacLean’s Allied Development Partners as the project’s developer in January.The announcement chilled the City’s relations with Government which had asked for a delay as it had not conducted due diligence on the project.