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Hernando Today

Charles Mixson Suspended 10 Days

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: August 30, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - Citing a litany of improper management practices dating back to 1999, the county administrator has suspended County Engineer and Department of Public Works Manager Charles Mixson for 10 business days and demanded he take steps to reorganize his department during a subsequent six-month probationary period.

In a harshly worded four-page letter sent Friday, County Administrator David Hamilton warned Mixson if he has any further infractions or fails to comply with his disciplinary terms, he will be fired.

"This is your last chance to keep your job," Hamilton said in the letter.

Mixson, who could not be reached for comment, will not get paid when suspended.

Hamilton said once Mixson returns to work Sept. 16, he must come up with precise timelines for the remediation of the contaminated former public works compound in downtown Brooksville and for the Hernando Beach dredge project.

Both projects have dragged on too long and cost the county millions, Hamilton said.

Mixson must also ensure that the DPW's operations are "fully transparent to the public, the media and the board," and must provide the county administrator's office with a reorganization plan to show how he will manage activities there.

"There's a lot more to management than a big office and a large salary," Hamilton said of Mixson. "It comes with a responsibility. This is another embarrassing revelation for our organization."

Hamilton said Mixson has displayed an "uneven approach to management" that has been allowed to fester through the years because of a revolving door of administrators.

Hamilton cited poor performance reviews from former County Administrators Richard Radacky and Paul McIntosh. Radacky, in a 1999 review, described the DPW's road and drainage operation as "weak, disorganized and poorly led."

"The citizens of Hernando County expect more from our managers and we are working to that end," Hamilton told Hernando Today on Friday.

Hamilton said he will expect the same level of management accountability from all of his top-level administrators.

In his letter, Hamilton said:

•Mixson was unaware that one of his subordinates, former pavement management coordinator Bill Busch, had a serious conflict of interest by promoting a pavement rejuvenation product of a vendor for which he worked.

•An investigation by the sheriff's office revealed that DPW employees had been accepting gifts and gratuities from developers in exchange for free fill dirt.

•Mixson failed to complete the rehabilitation of the county's former DPW property on West Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in a timely manner, even though former administrator Radacky in 2002 directed him to provide a remediation "game plan."

Six years later, the county is first beginning remediation of the site. Since then, the county was forced to spend millions of dollars on outside consultants "without a significant, demonstrable result," Hamilton said.

•Mixson failed to adequately supervise the Hernando Beach canal dredging project, Hamilton said. The county still does not have a dredging permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and that delay has placed the county's ability to fund the project in jeopardy, he said.

•Mixson has failed to ensure that his department is a "team player" by not consistently providing the board, the county administrator's office and attorney's office with requested information.

"It has been nearly impossible for anyone to obtain the data supporting your decisions," Hamilton said.

•Mixson has not exercised sufficient control over his employees and consultants.

•Mixson has failed to document incidents of employee discipline.

"Most importantly, you have jeopardized the careers of your high-level subordinates by not providing them with sufficient guidance and direction," Hamilton wrote to Mixson. "It is a basic management principle that while a supervisor can delegate authority, he cannot delegate responsibility."

Mixson's faulty management actions have particularly harmed the professional reputation of Assistant County Engineer Gregg Sutton, Hamilton said.

Sutton will fill in for Mixson during his suspension.

Hired in 1986, Mixson's salary, including health benefits, is $123,992. However, his accrued vacation, sick and paid time-off entitles him to a $27,175 cash-out.

This marks the third high-profile county department manager Hamilton has disciplined since taking office in March.

Ex-Human Resources Director Barbara Dupre quit under pressure in April after a damning independent legal report and county audit identified numerous management deficiencies.

In May, Hamilton fired County Emergency Management Director Tom Leto after questionable management practices in his office surfaced.

Hamilton said he will continue to demand high management expectations from all those in the upper levels of Hernando County government.

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

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