TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Hernando Today

Interviews Set For County Administrator

ADVERTISEMENT

By MICHAEL D. BATES, Hernando Today

Published: December 18, 2007

BROOKSVILLE - The selection committee to pick Hernando County's next administrator will meet for the first time Wednesday to begin interviewing a short list of candidates.

They will meet again Friday to finish initial interviews and possibly have two or three of their top picks ready to submit to county commissioners for consideration.

Barring any problems, a new county administrator could be on board by March 1.
Human Resources Director Barbara Dupre handpicked the six-person selection committee members based, she said, on their expertise.

But County Commissioner Diane Rowden on Monday remained steadfast in her displeasure in having Dupre so involved in the selection process. In October, Rowden blasted the administrator recruiting plan proposed by Dupre. She was on the losing end of a 4-1 vote.

"It's never been done before, her picking the people on the committee, and for the life of me, I don't know why it was allowed to be handled this way." Rowden said.

She said having Dupre involved is a conflict of interest and said the personnel director has a vested interest in not only picking the members of the selection committee but also who ultimately gets picked.

"We're the bosses and we should be in charge of this," Rowden said.

Dupre's committee picks are Pasco County Administrator John Gallagher, Oak Hill CEO Mickey Smith, Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Pat Crowley, businessmen John Ehlenbeck and Sam Shreves.

Dupre said Gallagher's inclusion is especially important because he has been a county administrator for 27 years and should provide needed insight into retaining candidates. Hernando County has had a revolving door of county administrators for 10 years, she said, with five in the past seven years.
Rowden gained one concession: the addition of retired army general M.T. Smith to the committee.

Although the committee has not been meeting together, the members have individually looked at all 29-plus applicants who applied for the job and have provided feedback to Dupre. Any applicant who receives two or more votes from committee members is placed on a short list, Dupre said.

County Attorney Garth Coller said the method of choosing a county administrator varies from county to county. As far as he knows, there is no state or local policy that dictates who should be included on a selection committee.

But, he added, nobody asked him to research that question.
Rowden said she also believes that county attorneys, not Dupre, should negotiate a contract with whoever is picked as administrator.

"She's the personnel director and she shouldn't be involved in handpicking her boss," Rowden said.

But Rowden's colleagues on the board said in October they do not have the time to process potentially hundreds of county administrator applicants and, even if they did, the Government-in-the-Sunshine laws - which prevent them from getting together outside public forums - would be a stumbling block.

They also believed that it is one of Dupre's functions to handle the recruitment process.

Former County Administrator Gary Kuhl resigned Nov. 10 to begin his new job as Sumter County public works director. Kuhl said a negative community atmosphere contributed to his decision to leave his post after a year-and-a-half.

County Purchasing Director James Gantt is the only in-house applicant to apply.

Another familiar name is Fred Hays of Texas who recently applied for the vacant city manager post in Brooksville.

Candidate backgrounds run the gamut from educators and consultants to businessmen and former government administrators.

Whoever gets the job will make around Kuhl's old salary of about $132,000, Dupre said.

Beginning in January, commissioners will conduct final interviews, make a selection and begin contract negotiations.

Deputy County Administrator Larry Jennings is serving as interim administrator until Kuhl's replacement is hired.

Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT