Special Meeting to Interview Candidates for the County Administrator Position

Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners

Thursday, September 17, 2020

5:00 p.m.

 

Present:               Anthony Viegbesie, Ph.D., Chairman- District 2

                                Brenda Holt, Vice Chair- District 4

                                Eric Hinson- District 1

                                Sherry Taylor- District 5

                                Gene Morgan- District 3

                                Lonyell Butler- Human Resources

                                Henry G. Grant- PhD., Interim County Administrator

                                Clayton Knowles- County Attorney

                                Beth Bruner- Deputy Clerk

 

These meetings ate being held virtually in accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order No. 20-69 as extended by Executive Order No. 20-179.

 

**All interview questions are listed at the beginning of the first interview**

 

General Business

1.          Welcome (Anthony O Viegbesie, Ph.D., Chairman)

At 5:04 p.m. Chair welcomed everyone to the Interviews, asked for heads to be bowed in silent prayer followed by leading in the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag.

 

Chair thanked Ms. Butler for her hard work and asked for the interview guidelines and Ms. Butler stepped forward and gave the interview guidelines she further stated one applicant from tonight’s interviews sent a letter of withdrawal from the process.

 

Morgan- which candidate withdrew and Ms. Butler answered, Mr. Proctor.

 

Chair asked for Mr. Elias to be brought into the meeting.

 

Mr. Elias was not on the line but the interview was not scheduled until 5:15 p.m. 

 

Butler said she would read the letter of withdrawal from Mr. Proctor and she did.  

This letter can be found at the end of these meting minutes.

 

Chair asked if there was a legal opinion.

 

Knowles- go forward and put the letter into the record.

 

Hinson- asked if the process was a fair process from a legal perspective and did it interfere with the labor laws. No candidate had another person listen to what other candidates had to say.

 

Chair asked if the process being virtual, because people could listen to the other interviews and Hinson said yes and he wanted to be in line with what was right.   

 

Chair said to go through with the process and let the attorney research the impact of the process and give his legal opinion to any violations.

 

Holt- Had questions about the process. Thought the remaining candidates should be given the opportunity to speak if they wanted.

 

Hinson- Come back tomorrow and give new questions.

 

Chair- The same questions had to be imposed on each applicant.

 

Butler stated Chair was correct.

 

Morgan said he asked if anyone had seen the questions and was told no. Question for the attorney was is the BOCC required to have a public meeting during the interview process.

 

Knowles, Yes.

 

Morgan cannot control who listens to the interviews. Most open and fair process.

 

Holt- Can have discussion later. Need to finish

 

Chair asked for the process to be finished and asked for Mr. Elias to be brought into the meeting.

 

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

(AV) 1. Please describe how your previous work experience has prepared you for the position of County Administrator of Gadsden County.

 

(BH) 2. What interest you most about being the County Administrator for Gadsden County?

 

(EH) 3. Please explain the role of the County Administrator within local Government as you see it.

 

(ST) 4. As the County Administrator, how would you interact with and engage the citizens and different organizations within the community?

 

(GM) 5. This position requires you to develop the County’s budget. Explain to us the key to a successful budget and what has been the largest organizational budget that you have developed and managed.

 

(AV) 6. Explain your experience in goal setting and financial forecasting.

 

(BH)7. Share with us your experience with developing and implementing a strategic plan.

 

(EH)8. Provide a time when you were able to identify a complex problem, evaluate the options, implement a solution, and the benefit(s) the solution had for your employer.

 

(ST) 9. Describe your experience in working with citizens from various cultural backgrounds and the approaches you have used to ensure adequate attention is given to the varying needs of these groups.

 

(GM)10. What have been your biggest work-related accomplishments and how were you able to attain them?

 

(AV)11. What do you see as the most critical part of an Administrator’s job?

 

(BH) 12. In your experience, what is the key to ensuring Gadsden County is compliant with all laws, regulations and standards that are applicable to the operations of the organization?

 

(EH) 13. How do you assess the strengths and weaknesses of an organization and identify opportunities to make improvements?

 

(ST) 14. How would you keep the County Commissioners informed on issues, projects, and/or citizens’ concerns?

 

(GM) 15. Tell us about your experience working with small local city/county governments and what do you consider the primary difference between small local governments as compared to a larger governmental entity.

 

(AV) 16. How would you characterize your leadership style?

 

(BH) 17. Share with us a time when your ethics were tested and the outcome.

 

(EH) 18. How would you improve low staff moral with limited funds?

 

(ST) 19. In your experience, what is the key to developing a good administrative team?

 

(GM) 20. If this position were offered to you, when would you be able to start?

 

(AV) Do you have any questions of this panel?

 

 

 

2.          5:15 p.m. – Interview – Derrick Elias

(Board of County Commissioners)

At 5:23 p.m. Mr. Elias appeared remotely before the board via Zoom and Ms. Butler gave him the guidelines of the interview.

 

Chair asked question #1

Have 34 years of Public Service.  Started in 1985 with Public Service with the Federal government Department of Defense. He was recruiter, staffer, trainer, employee relations, labor relations, payroll, attendance. Came back to Quincy and worked at the Florida Department of Corrections as an Assistant Personnel Officer. Responsible for the grade classification of 26,000 positions. Started the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice in 1994. Worked with the FDJJ for 24 years. He was deputy Chief of HR supervised the day to day activities of the Bureau. Responsible for labor relations and became the Equal Opportunity Officer and was responsible for reviewing all cases of discrimination, sexual harassment, and retaliation. Was an Elected Commissioner for 18 years on the Quincy City Commission. Mayor of Quincy for 7 years. Deputy. Employed for the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity as Deputy Chief of HR, responsible for all the day operations of labor relations and employee relations with all discipline training.   

 

Holt asked question #2

Seen the County go without a permanent County Administrator and he wanted to offer his services. Homegrown, well-known and could converse with a diverse group of individuals. He knows the County and issues of the County. Could work with employees and citizens to move the County forward and bridge the gap.

 

Hinson asked question #3

Initiate, implement, and carry out policies the Board had agreed upon. Carry out day to day processes of the County based on the policies the Commission adopted.  

 

Taylor asked question #4

Have meeting regularly. Reach out to municipalities in the County and invite them in to work together on issues. - open door policy for everyone. Accessible at all times.

 

Morgan asked question #5

Be realistic and live within your means. City of Quincy had a $40 Million budget, and that was the largest and it was a collaborative effort.

 

Chair asked question #6

Establish goals and establish an avenue to obtain the goals called for research, projections. Be realistic. Look at where you are and where you want to be. Make sure the forecast was in line with previous situations.

 

Holt asked question #7

Quincy had a Comprehensive Plan. It was a group effort. No one person could develop a strategic plan alone.

 

Hinson asked question #8

Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, the legislature made law that agency had to identify persons with disabilities. It was complex because on the Federal side of the law, a person did not have to identify if they had a disability. He had to have an affirmative action plan to merge the two laws together without violating either one and be able to follow through. Made a survey and explained to the employees why it was being done. Did not violate federal law. Adhered to the State requirement and the affirmative action plan stood today.

 

Taylor asked question #9

Quincy is diverse. He worked there 18 years. Treated each individual with respect because it did not matter the diversity everyone should treated the same.

 

Morgan asked question #10

Took on starting an agency from scratch. Could not take credit for it solely but was many hours of working 8 am to midnight making sure everything would be properly in place and the best people for the positions would be hired to ensure the integrity of the agency.

 

Chair asked question #11

Being the Face of the County and carrying out policies and knowing everything going on in the county.

 

Holt asked question #12

Make sure everyone understood their job and the laws. Training the workforce and relationship with the Attorney

 

Hinson asked question #13

Survey and find out from the people working for the County what they are doing and if they had the tools needed and if they did not, what was required to do it better and more efficently.

 

Taylor asked question #14

Get with the Commission as a whole and individually to see how each Commissioner wanted either be it by email, phone, office visits. Meet individually, all Commissioners would be told the same thing.

 

Morgan asked question #15

Worked with Quincy as elected official. As you move up the government levels, there was more red tape and accountability the higher you went, but expectations were all the same to get the job done and provide services for people

 

Chair asked question #16

Lead by example. Won’t ask anyone to do something he was not willing to do.

 

Holt asked question #17

Can’t think of a specific one but bottom line would be he would not do anything unethical, illegal or immoral.

 

Hinson asked question #18

Money is not the major motivator for staff. Key is to provide a place the people wanted to come and work. Make the workplace a place they wanted to perform and give their all. Celebrations for major accomplishments. Public recognition. Pats on the back.

 

Taylor asked question #19

Hire for fit. Sometimes most qualified on paper is not best fit.  

 

Morgan asked question #20

Would want to give his employer ample opportunity to fill his position. End of October no later than the first of November. Could be negotiated.

 

Chair asked if he had any questions for the panel.

 

Elias- When will the Board decide on the position.

 

Chair- No specific date, as soon as possible.

 

Elias-Will the Board make a decision by the end of Oct.

 

Chair- After today there was a discussion process. Need to hire as soon as possible. 

 

Morgan asked that no other Commissioners add additional comments because that would change the interview process.  

 

Chair- Hinson can respond to the question asked by Mr. Elias along with any member of the panel.

 

Hinson- said he was going to make a motion tonight o tomorrow so it could be soon.

 

Elias- How many were left to interview

 

Chair- 1

 

Elias- What are you looking for in a County Administrator.   

 

Chair- Develop a strategic plan that used the County Fiscal year budgets, enabling the County to achieve its missions and visions for the good of the County.

 

Morgan- motivator, communicator, understands how to implement and deliver, develop key staff and lead daily and understand the primary goal of the County Administrator.

 

Butler: Mr. Ford was scheduled for 6:20 p.m.

 

Chair- 10-minute recess

 

3.          6:20 p.m. – Interview – Auburn Ford

(Board of County Commissioners)

At 6:23 p.m. Mr. Ford appeared remotely before the board via Zoom.

 

Ms. Butler gave him the guidelines of the interview.

 

Chair asked question #1

Born and raised in Gadsden County, educated in the public-school system. FSU graduate in the field of criminology minor in Public Administration. Served in the Army 4 years. State Trooper in Miami Dade County. Florida Lottery Investigator. Gretna Police Dept. Women’s Prison on SR12. Quincy grant Manager. Own Construction Company. Midway City Manager. Wealth of experience in all facets of being the County Administrator. 

 

Holt asked question #2

Community Activist- Customer Service-Gadsden County deserves a high level of Customer service and he was not seeing that. A Need in Gadsden County to move forward with advanced customer service.  

 

Hinson asked question #3

Major goal is to be the bridge between the Commission and day to day operations with the County.  Run the County smooth and follow orders of the Commission

 

Taylor asked question #4

Open door policy for any concerned citizen. Meetings with all city managers to help together.   Keep relationships to move the County forward.

 

Morgan asked question #5

A lot of experience with Midway, City manager wears a lot of hats – developed the budget of $1.5-$3 Million Budget.  

 

Chair asked question #6

When you wear a lot of hats like in Midway, set goals that are realistic based on the past financial history and the future based on the growth of the city.

 

Holt asked question #7

Plan and project what you want for the County. Forecast and Budget for future years.

 

Hinson asked question #8

Midway fire station on the South side of Midway which is separated by tracks, issue came up that if there was a fire on the South side of the track and a train was coming through, how would the trucks get from City Hall to the South Side of the track.  Helped write and implemented himself a Grant, built a fire station and resolved the problem.

 

Taylor asked question #9

Gadsden is diverse.  Grants written for all ethnic groups. More GDBG grants written than the County ever had.   

 

Morgan asked question #10

Had a burglary problem in Midway, no Police department. Now have a police department and burglary went down. As well as the EMS Station.

 

Chair asked question #11

Communication, solved a lot of issues that occur in local government. If everyone communicated, it would make it easier for the organization to move forward.  

 

Holt asked question #12

To know and train the things that are legal and not. County attorney will protect.

 

Hinson asked question #13

Communication. Take time to interview every employee- get to know them and get training in weak spots.

 

Taylor asked question #14

This is the age of media. No excuse for everyone to not have the same information. Same goes for citizens. He would be accessible 100% of the day.

 

Morgan asked question #15

Staff- All works the same but small is easier with a smaller number of employees.

 

Chair asked question #16

 In Midway he had to be was the Authoritarian type because he wore all kinds of hats but in the County, he would be more of a Democratic type style of Manager. Not a micro manager.

 

Holt asked question #17

Midway with the Fire Station. Allegations made about bids being rigged so they did everything above board. Had sealed bids that were opened in the public.  Criticized bid. Did nothing illegal

 

Hinson asked question #18

Create work force being enjoy coming to. Have employees back. Give bonus for good work. 

 

Taylor asked question #19

Truth. Team building, if they are not on board they had to go.  Build relationships.  

 

Morgan asked question #20

Right away.

 

Chair asked if he had any questions for the Board.

No questions but thanked the Board for the opportunity.  

 

4.       7:25 p.m. – Interview – William Proctor

(Board of County Commissioners)

 

Withdrew his application

Letter was filed with the Clerk’s Office and posted at the end of these Interview minutes.

 

   Ms. Butler- said she would seek direction from the Board.

 

Morgan- Appreciate Ms. Butler and her efforts.  

 

COMMISSIONER MORGAN MADE A MOTION TO HIRE DEREK ELIAS AS COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WITH A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER TAYLOR WITH DISCUSSION.

 

Holt- Questioned the process no matter who was chosen. The process needed work. Other ways to do the interviews.

 

Chair wants attorneys’ thoughts. Chair thoughts the BOCC was going to wait so the Attorney could research. Does not support moving forward at this time.  

 

Hinson- Fair is what he asked for. Commended all candidates. Personally, thought Gilyard was great, direct and passionate. As well as Ford and Hawthorne, all the applicants. Wanted to see Gilyard get the job.

 

Holt- This process was improper. Process is the concern. Meet one day interview everyone that day. She said to throw it out and bring it back so there will be no conflict. With a new Commissioner coming on and one in election mode right now. Give attorney time to look at the process and do it in a way fairer.

 

Chair- All candidates did wonderful job. Agreed with Taylor about hasty actions. If he voted no it was not voting against candidates, it was against the process. He wanted legal counsel to give advice. He was fine with whatever the Board chose.

 

Taylor- Been putting the process in front of everyone for a month, process had not changed. All meeting since COVID had been Zoom and using Facebook and social media. Move forward with selection tonight and attorney should still look into the legality of the process. HR Director set process in places. Vetted by director. Attorney answered if the public obligation was met and Attorney said, yes.  The County needed a County Administrator.  Don’t know what Attorney would look at. All applicants did amazing. Assistant Administration position open and can pick both from the group, although the Authority did not lie with the BOCC to pick an Assistant.

Move forward with the vote and the Attorney can look into the legalities.

 

Holt- The process is incorrect, not the person, just like it was wrong to hire Mr. Williams out of a hotel on 267. Could have schedule meetings differently. Don’t have open meeting to hire other employees. The Board could interview individually. Not left up to HR and how they think it should be done. Should have sat down and come up with a better process. People could have evaluated yesterday’s applicants and figured out what to do and what not to. Other applicants could see everything. Throw out the process because it was not sufficient and it was unfair.

 

Taylor called the question

 

Morgan – Last thing is to further delay. Move to question

 

Hinson- Has reservations about the process, should not have had the interview this way.

 

HINSON- N

TAYLOR- Y

MORGAN- Y

HOLT- N

VIEGBESIE- N

 

MOTION FAILED 3-2

 

Holt asked the attorney have opportunity to look, and wait until November.

 

HINSON MADE A MOTION FOR DERRICK ELIAS BE NAMED COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WITH THE SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MORGAN.  

 

Holt- why tormented by the situation because a Commissioner gets up and threatens to walk out, let her walk out. Going back and forth with a situation that is not correct. Nothing to do with the Candidates, Work together. Won’t kill anyone to take one or 2 days to look at things. Stop and look.

 

HINSON- Y

TAYLOR- Y

MORGAN- Y

HOLT- N

VIEGBESIE- Y

 

PASSED 4-1  

 

 

 

 

Citizens Requesting to be Heard on Non-Agenda Items (3-minute limit)

Public comment for Commission meetings can be submitted via email to Citizenstobeheard@gadsdencountyfl.gov until 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 17,2020. This allows adequate time for comments to be made part of each meeting’s Official Record and considered carefully by Commissioners and staff. Comments submitted after the deadline, but prior to the meeting, will be added to the official record, but the County cannot guarantee that Commissioners and staff will have adequate time to review comments prior to the meeting.

 

Motion to Adjourn

7:17 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 17, 2020

 

Gadsden County Commission

9 E Jefferson Street# B

Quincy, FL 32351

 

Dear Gadsden County Commissioners,

 

I am an applicant for the role of Gadsden County Administrator. I write to inform you that I cannot go forward in the current climate given the non-neutral and inappropriate acts of the Deputy Clerk of Courts.

 

On her personal Facebook page, she has hosted and agreed with a barrage of citizen comments that have distressed me and unsettled the spirits of my loved ones. The Deputy Clerk of Courts works directly with the Administrator's office. I recognize that a hostile hiring process has been cultivated by the Deputy Clerk of Courts’ hosting and agreement with disparaging comments about me.

 

Contending with the variety of hostility of the Clerk's office and the offensive sentiments of the public exceeds the price I am willing to pay to be an Administrator. Commissioners, you do not deserve to be harassed relentlessly by an element of citizens who- before I am afforded a chance to demonstrate my gifts and talents- have so venomously opted to oppose me, my name and my presence.

 

Given all that has been expressed by the Deputy Clerk of Courts and others, I respectfully withdraw my application for Gadsden County Administrator.

 

 Bill Proctor

 

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