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| The Board of County Commissioners Stacked Up Some Significant Wins Last Night-- the long meeting was worth it! |
...and a lot of it was not even noticed.
But that's okay.
Yes, it was a long meeting, excrutiatingly long. But after it was over and I could take stock of what was accomplished--yeah--it was a lot of winning.
Here are some of the highlights of the wins:
--We funded the final portion necessary to finally, after 8 years, #OpenOurBeach at Perdido Key, access #4. That one slipped by most folks--more than likely because we ended up veering off course and discussing other facilities we can fund with Tourist Development Tax dollars--most notably a replacement/enhancement for the Bay Center. But we passed it, $90K from CARES act to finish it up. 300 feet of public access and 35 parking spots. It is going to be fantastic
--The board voted to do the right thing and pay to defend the former paramedic employee who was treated disgustingly unprofessionally and unfairly by our former county administrator, a former healthcare administrator-- so-called "medical administrative professional" ---who was for a short time consulting for our former administrator, our now former HR director, our "investigations" department, and the county medical director. Bogus charges were cooked up against this employee, concocted in what many believe was a conspiracy against him and made of whole cloth in retaliation for his filing of a bonafide harrassment complaint against his supervisor........wait for it........the medical director! Due process was not followed, our policies were ignored by staff for months, and this employee was left hanging out to dry. Astonishingly--this very same paramedic worked for 13 years with a sterling record, never once disciplined for ANY patient care issues. He makes a complaint against his medical director-----and poof, abracadabra she revokes his priviledges to work AFTER she finds out about the complaint he made and subsequently DEMANDS that he be fired! Then, unbeknownst to any staff in EMS or the Administrator's office---she, the medical director then sends a dosier-like list of serious-sounding alleged complaints to the state department of Health in an effort to strip this employee of his license and steal his livlihood. There is a paper trail and evidence of all of this that is so apparent, clear and straightforward------- Stevie Wonder could see it. No wonder we had to settle his suit against us for $200K . Faster than Emeril Lagasse says ".BAM!".. Next up for this paramedic who was wronged---------a first class legal defense that we voted last night to provide for him for his upcoming administrative hearing at DOAH--where he will finally be vindicated and be done with this nightmare county staff put him through once and for all!
--We voted unanimously to award our EMS and Paramedic Employees with nice-sized raises--and we also approved the payment of incentive pay for our hard to staff positions. We value our first responders and this significant pay increase is the manifestation of that committment--no matter what some disgruntled individuals think! We also approved the Fire Cadet program to help recruit, develop, and train up a pipeline of talented individuals to work in our Fire Houses and fill positions, eventually, as they arise.
We shot down the ridiculous Future Land Use transmittal items for OLF-8---as the FLU as presented would have eventually led to a situation where up to 50% of the remaining acreage of that field may have become succeptible, via future local zoning changes only, to becomming high-density, high impact 4-story apartments, condos, and townhomes. We knocked this off the agenda, and the item will be coming back with a LOT more red (commercial) and LOT less YELLOW (Mixed Use Urban)---which will allow more of the field to be used for the intended purpose of job creation and less of it to be used for what nobody in Beulah wants------more high density housing!
And finally---we did the right thing by unanimously (4-0, Doug left the meeting early, frustrated apparently) voting to increase our interim administrator Wes Moreno's pay commensurate to the level of work he has been and will be putting in as our new Administrator. He will be paid the low end of our latest recruitment range--$173,000.00. It's a tough job, and he will earn every dime and he already is...
Yes, it was a long meeting, but it was full of some significant, heavy duty wins for our county and for county staff and for Public Safety EMS First Responders. A GREAT night!
47 comments:
Great Job!
Thank you for finally opening access #4!!! All the things listed that got done last night gives us hope that our county is moving in a good direction now. God bless the paramedic. I don’t think any amount of money can undo the damage that’s been done, but I hope he finds the will to overcome it. Thank you commissioners. Let’s make Escambia County great again.
You guys are on fire. Kicking butt and taking names. Finally. Thank you. Wes Moreno is a great guy and he’s been a superb county employee for so long. It’s nice to see it paying off for him. I hope he sticks around as administrator for a while.
Wes has always done a great job for the county and I know he’ll be a great administrator.
I was relieved to see the former administrator go. I’m even more relieved to see the termination of the HR head go as well. Nothing personal against her but she wasn’t mature enough or equipped to handle the severity of the employee issues that were going on. She was the administrator’s axe lady and she hurt a lot of lives. I have a feeling she’ll sue the county and in a strange way I hope she does because the truth will come out then about how bad it really was.
Mr. Moreno is getting raked over the coals by the group of nasty haters on Facebook. They’ll try and destroy his reputation and his life like they did the paramedic. They’ve never met him they don’t know his character or work ethic. Will someone please sue those monsters to stop them from hurting innocent people because they can’t control there hate!!! Wes doesn’t deserve this and neither did the paramedic.
Last night’s meeting was long but productive. The board really hit some hone runs last night.
Commissioner Underhill seems to leave the meetings a lot. What does he do to earn OUR tax dollars? I’d like to make over 80,000 a year to “work” maybe twice a month, and go home when I’m tired or frustrated.
Don't forget sending the Sector Plan back to the Planning Board to finally get rid of an unimplementable plan that stole half of people's private property without them knowing it.
The side conversation on funding a new Bay Center or Sports Arena--finally doing it--made the meeting long and killed me per Beach Access 4, but was worth it.
You guys made the right decision on kicking the first call contract. It was nice to see a response that wasn't ramming something through and trying to get everybody to the table.
That horrible entangle lien relief thing for that poor family took a big step towards getting sorted out.
More money for medical care at the jail--as long as it goes to that.
And I really hope that after the conversation about the LET funds last night, that will *finally* start being done properly on the back end. Pam Childers admitted it needed a new look and conversation with the new sheriff. (Then told people today I was flat out wrong, but that's to be expected.)
Best, most organized and productive meeting in a long time. And the agenda was in very good order, also.
I doubt the descendent of Don Francisco Moreno is concerned about a few gadflies typing on Facebook.
Why has the critical staffing issues in the jail not been addressed before now? Agreed, there is a national trend in some venues regarding CJ staffing. Our sister Counties have also experienced this and have responded to that issue by applying "'red circle salary rates" to at least stem the otherwise "fake" wage equilibrium brought on by the current Federal benefits for unemployment. The amount of vacancies for FTE staff is dangerous and unacceptable for both Corrections Staff and Inmates. How has this issue risen to this point without any public debate at the Dias? Don't tell me Covid! No one wants to hear it anymore; at least I don't. Covid didn't shut down our Corrections functions; they have had to carry on thru the pandemic. Perhaps the board needs to realize they aren't the correct venue to operate a CJ agency and move forward to move operations back to the Sheriff? This option is and always was a better deal for the citizens of Escambia County.
Employees should be reeducated about the social media policy.
Michael Register
posts about his Administrator
ECW
says he works Escambia EMS
You gave EMS a pay raise.... but you did not give FIRE RESCUE a raise? I don’t understand how two face this can get. You say you applaud first responders but bash them all under the same breath. You funded a fire cadet program, to hire firefighters to go to fire academy earning the lowest in the state for a firefighter $10 dollars an hour. Then you expect and hope to keep these same individuals.... (hope is not a good tactic or good business strategy). Cause once there done with school they can & will happily leave to another department after gaining experience. There is nothing binding these professional individuals to escambia and no one wants to retire from escambia county fire rescue making $10 an hr after 30 years of service.
Anonymous 11:46, come on now. At some point the fire union leadership has to step back and really ask themselves why would EMS get two sizable pay raises, but not us?
If you skip the, they haven’t sent their prez to the podium with harsh statements against no support for firefighters for the last 5 or so years. EMS doesn’t have a continuous social media presence saying how bad work conditions are, no vehicles, bad plumbing, lost another employee, bucees pays more etc, etc etc.
It doesn’t matter if any of it’s true or not. Shut up, do the job and let that speak for itself. Quit thinking you have to educate the BCC and public. It’s not working. Try another approach.
Take the offered pay raise for starting firefighters. You have to start somewhere. Let things cool down, and wait for the next opening and work on one thing.
I hope you the best
Great job Mel! I believe your staying on this was instrumental in these outcomes. This county buries the truth thank God you have the shovel. You give hope to those who need it most. Smile and breathe you did good!
How long will it take after Selover has the case dismissed for the Medical Director to offer her resignation?
I saw Michael bashing Wes on ECW. Ms. Rogers is egging on the hateful comments. Wes took a job offered to him but the vicious scum on ECW will ruin his reputation and make him out to be a terrible person.
Isn’t it TRUE that Commissioner Bergosh’s comments are what forced the county to settle with the paramedic? We will all find out some enough.
I’m sorry but the haters on ECW are no better than thugs on the street. If they really knew how they looked acting that way they’d be mortified.
Anonymous 9:56 Lmao you’re so far off base. It’s hilarious how uninformed you ECW freaks are
Anonymous 5:47--------BINGO!!
Inweekly has good article about the budget that basically states the process.
The budget needs are to come up through the departments in the spring each year to the Administration by July 1, then to the board for votes and tweaks.
Budget needs are NOT met by playing politics.
If needs are not met, it is the direct failure of the departments for lack of documentation, procurement homework and essentially being proactive in the process.
HR should be proactive in the needs as well as enforcing policy of the employees.
Reset.
Do over.
https://inweekly.net/budget-next-up-for-county/
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.pnj.com/amp/447865400
Wes comes from a long background of strong leaders. The naysayers are already trying to blow up his rep.
He’s not a yes man like Sean Bullington, Jacqueline Rogers, Alex Arduini, Joel Cotton, Ruth Heffer, County EMT Michael Register and Doug Underhill have said or implied.
Funny thing is none of you losers realize you’re all yes men that agree with anything bad that’s said about people you don’t even know. Bunch of numb nuts.
How many people have y’all gone after just this month to hurt?
Right on. Smear campaigns never work.
https://ricksblog.biz/check-out-july-8-issue/
Notice in PNJ
Publication Date
2021-07-10
Subcategory
Miscellaneous Notices
PUBLIC NOTICE IT IS THE INTENTION of the Board of County Commissioners of Escambia County, Florida to hold a private meeting with its attorneys to discuss pending litigation in the case of United States of America ex rel Edler v. Escambia County, Case No.: 3:20-cv-05503-RV/HTC, U.S. District Court, in accordance with Section 286.01(8), Florida Statutes. Such attorney/client session will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 15, 2021, in the Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, Board Chambers, 221 Palafox Place, Pensacola, Florida. Commissioners Robert Bender, Jeff Bergosh, Douglas B. Underhill, Lumon J. May, and Steven Barry, Interim County Administrator Wesley Moreno, and County Attorney Alison P. Rogers will be attending in person. Stephanie Pidermann and Margaret Mevers of the Lydecker, Diaz law firm, attorneys representing Escambia County in the foregoing litigation, will attend virtually. A certified court reporter will attend and report the attorney/client session. Legal No. 4812013 1T July 10, 2021
Perhaps Rick Outzen can take it from here.
We see what you are up against.
You will have to ignore Marlette cartoons and gadflies on facebook.
I'm sure you need our support.
https://www.whistleblowers.org/protect-the-false-claims-act/
https://federal-lawyer.com/dismiss-whistleblower-case-under-false-claims-act/
Dismissing a Whistleblower Case in Federal Court
The vast majority of whistleblower cases are spurious, frivolous, and belong dismissed. More so, many qui tam lawsuits are poorly written and mere recitals of Wikipedia content, general law descriptions, and entirely divorced from the actual facts in the case. Luckily, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure contain a number of avenues to dispose absurd accusations and dismiss unfounded False Claims Act cases relatively early on in a case.
In general, there are two ways to arrive at a dismissal decision. First, after a qui tam is filed, the government attorney has an obligation to investigate each complaint to determine whether the government supports and intervenes into the case (essentially helps the relator) or gives notice of non-intervention. In the latter case, when the government concludes not to intervene, the qui tam styled “United States of America ex. rel. v. You” enters the ordinary private civil litigation process. Just like an ordinary federal litigation matter between two non-governmental parties, plaintiff has an obligation to serve the complaint on the defendant pursuant to Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to give the defendants notice of a lawsuit against them. Concurrently with defendants’ response to the lawsuit or shortly thereafter, the defendants have a first opportunity to ask the court to dismiss the case.
“Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be One.” – Marcus Aurelius
“The best revenge is not to be like your enemy.” – Marcus Aurelius
“Be tolerant with others and strict with yourself.” – Marcus Aurelius
last one ;)
“If anyone tells you that a certain person speaks ill of you, do not make excuses about what is said of you but answer, ‘He was ignorant of my other faults, else he would have not mentioned these alone.'” – Epictetus
FYI
On NE blog, if one knows more than William he won't publish the comment, especially if it is positive. He likes click bait and drama and negativity.
Rick will close the comments and let a lefty have the last word.
Whatever.
Barry and the board (you included) voted to give William Reynolds the Century area of chamber commerce money for two years, over 80K and you will note he publishes Barry in a positive light but no holds barred on Century. Century chamber didn't give WR a free meal ticket a few years ago so he has been trying to take it down since.
So people need to think critically.
Read between the lines.
Find what works to get the job done and for the most part you have to ignore most comments. It is proven most people comment negatively and say things like
"vote them out"
etc
which is really lazy
I for one am glad we have the incumbents during this ongoing vacuum (almost non existence) of leadership time in Escambia management.
The commenter on Rick's blog under the budget article is knowledgeable.
He had good words for you Bergosh, noting the leadership vacuum in 2019. I'll bring them here for readers:
"Regarding “Budget Next Up for County,” the county administrator is required to submit a three-part budget to the BOCC by “July 15” of each year. It says so right in Escambia County Code Section 2-84(5). That is still six days away. The “message” cited above is actually a letter signed by the county administrator when they formally transmit the Final Adopted Budget to the BOCC. I wonder if the BOCC actually reads the letter. The most recent “letter” was signed by County Administrator Janice Gilley on October 22, 2020. It certainly painted her accomplishments in a glowing light. It does contain one oddity. It cites Florida Statutes Chapter 129.03(3) as her legal authority for transmitting the Final Adopted Budget to the BOCC. [I presume that she meant to write “Section” 129.03(3).] “Chapter 129” is an expansive state law that governs the County Annual Budget. It mentions “county budget officer” and “clerk of the court and comptroller” but not “county administrator.” Unless the BOCC takes action to designate another person as the county budget officer, it is by default the clerk of the court and comptroller. Someone might want to ask Pam Childers who is the county budget officer. I thought it was her. I think that Gilley should instead have broadly cited as her authority Section 2.84, Escambia Code of Ordinances. Did anyone ever sit down with Gilley at the start to explain her powers and duties? That seemed especially important in this case given that Gilley was so openly unqualified for the job both as per state law and also the Escambia Code of Ordinances, specifically Section 2.82(b). I thought it rather miraculous that Gilley actually lasted two years. I would have given her at best six months. The BOCC set Gilley up for failure by hiring a person they knew best but who was not the best qualified person for the job. In truth, Gilley was not qualified at all. Her skill set is as a political staffer, political appointee and political liaison (“schmoozer”). In October 2019, when Gilley recommending hiring Jana Still to be the HR Director, she cited as her legal authority for that action Section 125.74(1)(k), Florida Statutes. But County Administrator Alison Rogers once told me that the BOCC had never adopted Section 125.74 as the powers and duties for the Escambia County Administrator. Doing so is optional – “may.” Instead, way back in 1985, they last created a similar but different Section 2-84 in the Escambia County Code. So why would Gilley cite as her authority a state law that did not apply? The county’s “culture of chaos” does seem to start with people not knowing their jobs. The only person who seems to know what they are doing is the County Attorney. In April 2019, Commissioner Jeff Bergosh exclaimed, “There’s leadership vacuum in this county.” It’s a very big vacuum. I recall Commissioner Gene Valentino once decrying how hard county government was with “five chief executive officers.” No one challenged his assertion that each county commissioner was also a chief executive officer of the county. It really seems hopeless. By the way, one big flaw in the county’s organization is that the Chief Budget Officer does not report to the County Administrator. There are six people who are direct reports to the County Administrator. The Chief Budget Officer is not one of them. That is a dumb move. If legal, and the Florida Attorney General might have an opinion, the BOCC should make the Chief Budget Officer co-equal with the County Administrator and City Attorney.
CJ Lewis
"Regarding “Budget Next Up for County,” the county administrator is required to submit a three-part budget to the BOCC by “July 15” of each year. It says so right in Escambia County Code Section 2-84(5). That is still six days away. The “message” cited above is actually a letter signed by the county administrator when they formally transmit the Final Adopted Budget to the BOCC. I wonder if the BOCC actually reads the letter. The most recent “letter” was signed by County Administrator Janice Gilley on October 22, 2020. It certainly painted her accomplishments in a glowing light. It does contain one oddity. It cites Florida Statutes Chapter 129.03(3) as her legal authority for transmitting the Final Adopted Budget to the BOCC. [I presume that she meant to write “Section” 129.03(3).] “Chapter 129” is an expansive state law that governs the County Annual Budget. It mentions “county budget officer” and “clerk of the court and comptroller” but not “county administrator.” Unless the BOCC takes action to designate another person as the county budget officer, it is by default the clerk of the court and comptroller. Someone might want to ask Pam Childers who is the county budget officer. I thought it was her. I think that Gilley should instead have broadly cited as her authority Section 2.84, Escambia Code of Ordinances. Did anyone ever sit down with Gilley at the start to explain her powers and duties? That seemed especially important in this case given that Gilley was so openly unqualified for the job both as per state law and also the Escambia Code of Ordinances, specifically Section 2.82(b). I thought it rather miraculous that Gilley actually lasted two years. I would have given her at best six months. The BOCC set Gilley up for failure by hiring a person they knew best but who was not the best qualified person for the job. In truth, Gilley was not qualified at all. Her skill set is as a political staffer, political appointee and political liaison (“schmoozer”). In October 2019, when Gilley recommending hiring Jana Still to be the HR Director, she cited as her legal authority for that action Section 125.74(1)(k), Florida Statutes. But County Administrator Alison Rogers once told me that the BOCC had never adopted Section 125.74 as the powers and duties for the Escambia County Administrator. Doing so is optional – “may.” Instead, way back in 1985, they last created a similar but different Section 2-84 in the Escambia County Code. So why would Gilley cite as her authority a state law that did not apply? The county’s “culture of chaos” does seem to start with people not knowing their jobs. The only person who seems to know what they are doing is the County Attorney. In April 2019, Commissioner Jeff Bergosh exclaimed, “There’s leadership vacuum in this county.” It’s a very big vacuum. I recall Commissioner Gene Valentino once decrying how hard county government was with “five chief executive officers.” No one challenged his assertion that each county commissioner was also a chief executive officer of the county. It really seems hopeless. By the way, one big flaw in the county’s organization is that the Chief Budget Officer does not report to the County Administrator. There are six people who are direct reports to the County Administrator. The Chief Budget Officer is not one of them. That is a dumb move. If legal, and the Florida Attorney General might have an opinion, the BOCC should make the Chief Budget Officer co-equal with the County Administrator and City Attorney.
Jeff BergoshJuly 10, 2021 at 11:29 AM
Anonymous 5:47--------BINGO!!
So because they are complaining you won't fix it? You won't fix issues with public safety because it would force you to have to agree with their union? You will risk lives to satisfy your ego. Grow up.
332
who negotiates?
does a commissioner negotiate with a union?
does a commissioner tell the public safety director what to do?
state the FL statute giving him authority.
tell us how it all works.
explain the process
please
i'll wait.
thank you.
the boys in fire need to grow up.
they are pissing up the wrong rope and don't even know it.
hint #1
who is your new fire chief?
hint#2
google authority of a county government organization given via Florida state statutes.
civics lesson time
grow up
I was happy to see the sector plan rolled back and a commerce park for the field formally known as OLF8.
I think the REAL question is now that the evidence shows how bad an actor she has been, how she has brought false claims against every single person who brought a complaint first against her is this: Why has she not been fired??? I mean the administrator and the HR director were partially fired over the wrong doing to Matt (and maybe the other 4) so why is the person who made the false claims not fired? The county is now culpable for a negligent hiring and retention. They were warned early on of problems and Jack Brown made that go away and have now seen the evidence of retaliation from her repeatedly. Don’t let her resign. Fire her for cause and the dinner the better for everyone.
They settled because the overwhelming evidence is that she retaliated against him AFTER he filed a complaint. I know the ECW people want to wash over the timelines but there is a clear pattern with her: yuh file a complaint she tries to destroy you. It’s a classic narcissist behavior pattern. The 4 that were arrested filed complaints long before she filed complaints.
I have long faulted Comm Bergosh and the BCC for hiring Gilley. She was clearly unqualified for this position. Nothing in her background suggested she has the executive skill set to lead an entire organization. I do give Commish Bergosh points for voting to fire her, although after great damage has been done. I hope they learn their lessen and bring in a skilled administrator this time.
It’s not about they, it’s about having serious partners at the table. The fire union isn’t being reasonable with their complaints. They should focus narrowly on pay increases, not lying about lack of coverage leading to deaths and 4 people in every single neighborhood in the county. I am sure if the administration and the foe union came up with a reasonable pay rate then the BCC would seriously consider it. I have seen some of the fire Lts going on about the EMS raise and double certifications, etc. Here is what they will never admit: pay isn’t based just on the certification but the level of work and responsibility. An EMS paramedic is basically a Company officer on that ambulance and has far more weight of responsibility that a first response paramedic on a fire truck. Many fire departments here in Florida that run EMS have a Recur Lt on the ambulance. In addition that EMS paramedic with run 12+ calls on their shift. Look at the work load of EMS and fire and you will see EMA handles 4x the call volume. With that said, yes fire needs a raise. I would ask commish Bergosh to start asking questions though: why does the EMS Chief and deputy get paid significantly less than the fire chief and deputy fire chief. Why do EMS supervisors make 20,000 less than their fire battalion chiefs? The EMS and fire department are essentially equal departments so why the pay disparity?
If you pay close attention to the majority of the bashing crew they show how clueless they are regarding how the county operates. They blame the wrong people for things they don’t have control over. “Vote them out”, or “the Commissioners suck”, comes from lazy minds that want to fit in with the rest of the haters. It’s disheartening to see the lack of knowledge. Things they should of learned in high school. Ignorance sure is dangerous.
I read a little about a person who files a false claim suit and basicly the BCC can't fire her until they win the suit. Thats what it looks like to me. It looks like Edler gets to keep drawing the two salaries plus stay home while the county gets additional medical direction plus has to fight the lawsuit. While she throws down laugh emoticons on ECW.
People need to be supporting our elected leaders and their decisions in this.
It was a good meeting to watch. It was also nice to see a civilized audience that wasn’t there to play games. The last one that had a group there taking pictures of citizen’s texts, fake coughing bouts to disrupt the meeting, & threatening speakers, was an embarrassing show of Pensacola’s scum.
Thanks to the board for shooting down the FLU transmittal items for OLF-8. We need more job opportunities
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