By DOTTY NIST
Plans are in place for Walton County Administrator to depart his post at the end of 2021 with recent approval of a voluntary separation agreement.
The Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) convened for a special meeting on Oct. 29 at the Walton County Courthouse to consider this agreement with Jones, who has served as county administrator since September 2013.
At the special meeting, BCC Chairman Trey Nick presented his fellow commissioners with the proposed agreement with Jones. Nick related the circumstances of the agreement being drawn up.
He said that after a recent BCC meeting Jones had emailed him with the information that he, Jones, would be taking 90 days leave. This, Nick reported, had resulted in the special meeting being scheduled to discuss “what to do during that time.”
Nick also indicated that, in the meantime, a conversation with Jones had been prompted about Jones’s future plans—and that he had discussed with Jones “a separation from service.”
Nick said that, based on that conversation, he had worked with Clay Adkinson, acting county attorney, to draw up an agreement addressing “what Larry told me he wanted to do.”
“Larry would like to take his 90 days’ leave time starting on a date that the board decides,” Nick said. “and, after that, his contract with the county will be cancelled.”
“He would get 20 weeks’ severance pay and all his accrued benefits that he has acquired,” Nick explained.
Nick recommended approval of the agreement, with the BCC to decide at what time Jones’s leave time would start between the date of the meeting and Jan. 1. 2022.
With the other commissioners proceeding to look at the agreement, Nick asked Jones if he had any questions. Jones said he did not and confirmed that the agreement “accurately reflects our discussion.”
“The only comment I would make,” Jones told the officials, “is, if it would be the board’s pleasure, I would love to serve for the next two months in the continued capacity and then begin the 90-day leave time on Jan. 1.”
He told the officials that he believed this would give him the opportunity to work with Dede Hinote, deputy county administrator, and others “to do a transition and be there and be available during that time.”
Nick indicated that he was in agreement on this, and District 5 Commissioner Tony Anderson moved for approval. With District 2 Commissioner Danny Glidewell asking for time to read the agreement, Nick requested holding off a little while on the motion for approval.
After a few minutes, Anderson restated his motion for approval of the agreement on the condition of Jones working through Dec. 31, 2021 and with his 90-day leave period to begin on Jan. 1, 2022.
With Nick preparing to take a roll call vote, Glidewell asked for clarification on who would be “running the show.”
Anderson responded, “Clarification would be that Larry’s running the show as he always does.”
Adkinson explained that, if the motion for approval were passed “Mr. Jones is still the county administrator through the end of Dec. 31, 2021. On Jan. 1, 2022, he’ll be on continuous uninterrupted medical leave for 90 consecutive days, and his contract to be cancelled on the day following that.”
“So,” Adkinson continued, “the board can either take up that issue of what to do during his leave time, once that starts…at a later date, or you can take it up after this motion, but the motion is self-contained as of now.”
Asked if public comment would be taken, Nick at first replied, “I don’t need to, this is internal.” However, after Adkinson observed that the meeting had been publicly noticed and that members of the public were in attendance, Nick invited public comment. No one in attendance responded to that invitation.
Anderson’s motion to approve the separation agreement with the dates decided on carried unanimously.
After the vote, Jones voiced appreciation to the officials for their votes and made brief comments about his service as administrator and his service prior to that on the BCC.
He emphasized what an “honor and privilege” it had been to serve fellow citizens first as an elected official (as District 3 commissioner 2000-2012) and then to be selected by the BCC “to guide the ship” as administrator. He thanked the commissioners and also members of the public in attendance for their support.
Jones, who over a number of years has faced serious health challenges, said, “Obviously, I’ve got health issues that I’m dealing with, and that’s a lot of what’s going on today, but I’m going to be around, I want to be available.” He assured the commissioners that he would do so through the end of the year.
Jones also indicated that, after leaving the administrator position, he looked forward to continuing to serve the citizens of Walton County “in some capacity.”
Nick asked his fellow commissioners if they had further business to bring up.
Glidewell spoke about the importance of the county administrator position and urged for the search for someone to fill the position to begin without delay. He suggested having legal counsel contact the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) and the Small County Coalition to get the assistance of those organizations “in finding prospects.”
Glidewell also called for a request for qualifications (RFQ) for the position to be put out immediately by Walton County Human Resources and for an employment agency to be contacted for assistance in bringing in candidates.
He made a motion to proceed as he had indicated.
Adkinson agreed to have purchasing draft the RFQ with any input obtained through contact with FAC and the Small County Coalition. He pledged to have the RFQ ready for BCC consideration on their next meeting agenda.
District 3 Commissioner Mike Barker seconded the motion on the condition of the National Association of Counties also being contacted.
Glidewell amended his motion to include that association, and Adkinson agreed to contact them as well.
At Anderson’s suggestion, the motion was again amended to provide for the position to be “opened up” immediately to be posted and for applications to be accepted.
Adkinson cautioned that the job posting would need to indicate that the start date for the person to be hired would not be until after Jones’s 90-day leave period ends, since “there’s not an open position to fill” until that date (April 1).
District 1 Commissioner Boots McCormick brought up the importance of having someone ready to step in on Jan. 1 to take on the duties of the administrator position upon Jones’s departure.
Anderson responded that Jones had stated that he would be working with Hinote and others to prepare for those duties to be handled. “This is something we can talk about at the next meeting,” he commented, saying that he did not want the motion on the floor to be “muddled” by adding anything about what McCormick had brought up.
Glidewell’s motion was approved unanimously.
The next BCC meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Nov. 9 at the Walton County Courthouse.