News
Year in review: New county administrator hired
By Michael D. Bates | Hernando Today
Published: December 28, 2012
BROOKSVILLE - New County Administrator Leonard Sossamon took his seat for the first time at a May 22 county commission meeting.Published: December 28, 2012
It turned out to be a five-and-a-half hour marathon. Afterward, he called it enjoyable and action-packed.
To which County Commissioner Dave Russell joked: "You ain't seen nothing yet."
Hernando Today has deemed Sossamon's hire as the fifth biggest story of 2012.
Sossamon's debut was marked by well-wishes from his bosses on the board. The newly minted administrator said he is looking forward to a productive tenure in Hernando County.
"I'd like to think I can stay here for an extended time as the county administrator," Sossamon said in his introductory comments before the board and public.
Sossamon appeared relaxed during the meeting, frequently huddling with Chairman Wayne Dukes to confer over an agenda item.
The agenda was crowded with several hot-button issues, including outcries from residents angry over missed trash collections.
He answered each of the people who spoke during the morning citizen input comment section, addressing them respectfully and assuring them their concerns would be addressed.
Several audience members wished him the best.
Government watchdog Anthony Palmieri said he had a bottle of aspirin handy in case the new administrator needed something to alleviate the headaches that are likely to develop in the months ahead.
Sossamon this year replaced former administrator David Hamilton, fired in November 2011, after about three-and-a-half years on the job.
Sossamon was county administrator of Newberry, S.C., from 2004-06. He also was city manager of Concord, N.C., from 1985-98.
Sossamon agreed to a $125,000, five-year contract, about $10,000 less than what the county had paid Hamilton.
Six months later, county commissioners gave Sossamon sterling marks for his first performance evaluation.
Like his predecessor, Sossamon is still in the "honeymoon period" and commissioners are expecting the best. But this time, they hope Sossamon breaks the routine of rapidly departing administrators and erases the stigma that Hernando County cannot keep an administrator around long enough to stabilize the organization.
Commissioner Jim Adkins said the next six months will be more telling for Sossamon as he starts from the beginning the crafting of a new fiscal year budget and deals with the reorganization of the county utility department.
From hereon, evaluations will likely be tougher, especially as Sossamon is expected to get a major chunk of his much-awaited long-term strategic plan for Hernando County completed.
mbates@hernandotoday.com (352) 544-5290