Pasco County meeting record

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1Sep 19, 2023
Board of County CommissionersR68Regular businessApproved
Approved minutes
Approved Staff’s recommendation with Commissioner Oakley voting nay.
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18m
Jack MarianoChair
If I could, I'd like to bring up R sixty eight.
Confirmation of assistant county administrator, development services of Roy Missouri. Roy's been waiting all day. I don't want to make him wait anymore.
Roy, come on up please.
Unidentified speaker
Mm-hmm.
Mike Carballa
All right. Well, thank you for for bringing this up and thank you for being patient with us, Mr. Major. It uh it's it's been a been a long day here so far. It's gonna be longer this evening, I imagine. So uh I I guess I'll I'll be I'll be really, really brief in my remarks. I just want to speak to the to the process of which we hired the uh I'm asking that you confirm Roy Major, PE, as the next uh Assistant County Administrator for Development Services. Um we uh Mr Mr. Marin had to leave, but uh we appreciate Mr. Marin's service as the interim
director, as the interim ACA over over development services. Um and we initiated the process immediately after after having Mr. Marin appointed. Yeah. Um the process we we conducted a national search. Uh we had lots of lots of resumes and and lots of interest in in the position. We we took those resumes and we boiled it down with uh with the team uh of of HR, my chief of staff, uh as well as other other key team members to kind of boil down uh the the group. We settled
on a group of about four or five candidates. And of that group, we we ran them through a full day of panel interviews. And those panel interviews included, obviously, myself, it included the executive leadership team, which consists of the other assistant county administrators. The directors and team members that would be working underneath this individual, as well as directors within the county that May have interactions, but but folks that understand what the culture and the leadership style of of the organization are are
about. We also had a um had a period where we we pulled together folks from industry, across the development industry, and we asked for your input in that process as well to bring people from the development community in to provide some input. And so all of that input input was gathered and uh one candidate uh you know, uh emerged and that was uh Mr. Mr. Major. Uh Mr. Major, I believe, possesses the the right combination of of leadership and technical experience in the areas that that I feel we need the most assistance in in
the development services area. He has uh he has a good mixture of of government as well as private sector technology And engineering experience, and I think that that will that will serve our citizens very, very well. If I may, I'd like to ask Mr. Major.
Jack MarianoChair
In a m in a moment. In a moment. In a moment. I got I got I got I've got to ask the question again. Sunshine law binds us.
Mike Carballa
Of course.
Jack MarianoChair
But I t I tell you when I found out that Sally Sherman was leaving I made a call to Mike right away and I I tried calling Roy first, but I didn't have his number. But I I made a call to Mike right away saying, I'm not sure if I'm Mm-hmm.
Mike Carballa
Well and I'm
Jack MarianoChair
happy
to
and and I want to know so now you can tell us in the open forum, but I know you got some other interests the same way.
Mike Carballa
Yes, of course. I mean I mean Mr. Major was was was was clearly um there there was a lot of support for Mr Major that that I've seen. Um and uh and again I think he He again he he rose to the top. I feel again that his his experience is kind of what is what sets him apart um and really um in in my mind made it made it clear with with the rest of the team.
Ron OakleyVice Chair
Commissioner Oakley. Well I have something to uh discuss because I Um I actually I actually Mr. Major wasn't my pick. And it wasn't me to pick, so I'm okay with that. And I like Mr. Major. I like David Engel. But uh those two I think are very good candidates. I just It didn't get my candidate. So I'm okay with that. But the problem I have and I'd like an answer from our administrator. And if I may, Senator Kiman,
I got paperwork.
Seth Weightman
We gotta submit.
Unidentified speakerVoice A
We submit and file this.
Ron OakleyVice Chair
Do we do that when we're a county commissioner? I don't know.
Kathryn Starkey
Well
Unidentified speakerVoice A
if you want it in the record,
Kathryn Starkey
yes.
Okay,
Ron OakleyVice Chair
I'll make a motion. To receive and file.
Kathryn Starkey
Okay.
Seth Weightman
Second it.
Ron OakleyVice Chair
Okay. All in favor say aye. Just pass copy down. Aye. And I would like to ask if Uh if the clerk will read it in the record. And I've got a bigger copy 'cause The small copies are not good for my eyes. Thank you. Okay. So I made it bigger. All right, Mr. Chairman Mari This is Mr. Majors. Give Mike a copy of it. This is Mr. Major's resignation.
In March of Twenty twenty two, when he left The Business Service Department. So I'm very concerned. that he wrote this in his resignation.
And still putting a name in to run for the The position. If you'll go ahead and read that then we'll go from there.
Kathryn Starkey
Okay. Mr. Chairman
Ron OakleyVice Chair
Mariano. Okay.
Kathryn Starkey
Uh from Roy A. Major sent Friday, March fourth, twenty twenty two at one sixteen PM to Barbara Heitzman, C C Sally Sherman, subject Roy Major resignation. Good morning. I am ending my employment with Pasco County Effective March 18, 2022. I discussed this item with Sally Sherman on March 3rd. I feel my management philosophy and skill sets are outdated and less applicable to the current needs of the county workforce. I lack the desire and motivation required to implement the vision of Pasco of
County Administrator while performing the daily tasks demanded by staff and the client. Given these conditions combined with outside opportunities, I feel it is m in my best interest for step away from county at this point. Respectfully, Roy Measure Major, Director of Building Construction Services Administration.
Ron OakleyVice Chair
And so it I mean Barbara Hensman had this. Dude. Mike, did you look at this before you decided to pick Roy Masher as a person to take this position?
Mike Carballa
I did not read this letter, no. However, I will say that the subject of Mr. Roy of of Roy's departure from the county Um and his coming back was the subject of probably just about every interview panel that occurred. Anytime we have a team member that leaves and comes back that that's always uh can be can be either a source of friction, it could be a source of of of inspiration, depending on how you look at it. Uh I will say that um mister Major's responses uh satisfied
uh both myself and the and the various interview panels when we had those had those discussions. And I think Mr. Major, of course, if if he'd like to, he can, he can speak to it. But I can tell you there's probably a couple of key differences uh in that chain of command that are completely different than they were on March 4, 2022. And maybe that had something to do with it as well.
Ron OakleyVice Chair
Well the problem is is he said he couldn't do the job and he only had I only had four people in that department where he was, but now we're gonna bring him back and put him over five hundred people in that department. It I'm just very concerned that that department's not gonna change much. And and in our staffing and and we've heard this for years. The staff always runs what happens with the commission, not the county commissioners. It's all the B team. The B team are those people that are B here before we c get elected by our citizens to be here.
And they're here after we're gone as a B team that continue to run The county. And that's been known for years and years, that statement has come out. That's Our citizens all over believe that. And at times we can't get things even to move forward through through BCS or permitting and There's issues I've I've seen three of them today come up about permitting issues. Those aren't gonna change if you don't have the right person in in place. And that I'm concerned about that. Other
than that I like Mr. Engel, I like Mr. Major. Nothing against either one of those persons. So I just think it was done wrong.
Jack MarianoChair
Well I think you know Mike's Mike's I think has done a g some great hires across the board, the people he's bought in place. Um and I will tell you I don't know how the others and them we'll sh w I'm sure here's a second, but literally When Roy left. I was very disheartened. 'Cause I knew Roy was working real hard to get stuff done. Even even he even got the Asbilts changed for us before he left, even though in his last week or two here it gets done, he could have dropped the ball on that. He could have let it through, but he knew was a good thing for us to do. Uh
when I see him Work so hard at at getting stuff done and and I will tell you after nineteen years, I've heard of Opal coming in, I've heard of this technology coming in, the Sala coming in, we're gonna change this, can change that. Uh I will tell you when when Todd Bailey and Mark Bellis were running it as an interim, I think it was functioning very well. Um When Sally came in and dropped dropped off, Dan did not want to go push to get stuff done. He let it kinda let everybody do their own thing. And I will tell you, Sonia Walling, who works for me, I'm
gonna say at least half her time is dealing with these permit stuff. I've had enough. I want to get stuff done. I've talked to the business community over and over again. They want to see some change in here. And I think Roy is the type of guy with a skill set, which, if you've read his resume, he's got tremendous background. He's definitely qualified for this every step of the way. I think he might get frustrated with the mindset to implement the vision of the previous County Administrator while performing the daily tasks. There's no reason if I have a a sim simple situation. I think if I'd sit down with Roy to talk about
a simple situation, I'd get it. When I had Sally Sherman d to have it to have an issue, she'd have ten people in the room. I could talk to Roy about different issues while he was here and we would get the stuff done and get it resolved. I think he's the right guy. I'm delighted he wanted to come back.
Ron OakleyVice Chair
I'm just part let me just say one other thing. Part of what really disturbs me is the fact that this letter was there. Barbara Hansman. was there our HR director. She's seen it. She's read it. Why didn't she pass it on On to Mike. So there's there's things that are falling through with what we call our leaders and I have very concern about some of our leaders we have here. They're B team, they're not A team. I won't we have plenty of A team members. I mean plenty. But there's a few
that are this B team and that's not helping this county move forward. Yeah. Mr. Starkey?
Kathryn Starkey
That's probably the worst resignation letter I've ever seen, I'm gonna say that. Um but um I had faith in both David and Roy and I helped bring Roy here and create that position. And I think he did a great job when he was here. I I I I'm thinking this resignation letter just kind of encompassed his frustration with what he was dealing with. And um I I have faith that Roy can do a great job and I I'm willing to move I mean I don't know if you're trying to not move forward.
I I'm willing to move forward. Um I'd like to hear Roy and after you're done with his vision and you know Um this is a an an unfortunate thing, but um I I think we move on, move up. keep working on um making our county operate better. And better and I like the combination of private experience and public experience. He knows what he's getting into 'cause he worked
there before. And um and I trust my administrator to make his picks. And um and that's our job I think is to let our administration do their job and we set policy. So that's what I'm here to do.
Jack MarianoChair
Commissioner Weightman.
Kathryn Starkey
Okay.
Jack MarianoChair
Thank
Seth Weightman
you,
Jack MarianoChair
Chair.
Seth Weightman
I don't really know the the history here. It was before my time, but
Mr. Carbala, this is your team that you're building. You're at the helm right now. And uh When's your agreement up?
Mike Carballa
Yes sir.
Seth Weightman
So you know, I trust you to build a team that you think you see fit, that may or may not, depending on the future of what your job is here, to build the right team to say, hey, I'm gonna continue to work and lead this county. So I'm gonna trust you with your choice and your hire and empower you. to to build your team. and uh hopefully we see great things come of it. So That's my opinion on this.
Jack MarianoChair
I'll say I actually had another name I actually threw into the mix as well. But I and I did not think of David Engel, but I think they David Eng David Engel is a quite uh quite a brilliant man. Uh does a great job. I still think that R Roy is probably the better pick, but Mike?
Mike Carballa
I I have nothing to add. I got I'll add uh that uh I I have full confidence that Mr. Major uh can can do the job that that we have laid out. Uh we we have a lot of great things going on in our development services group. They are dealing with a lot of unprecedented growth. We we have areas that we can that we can certainly shore up, areas that have required shoring up for decades. Uh but I can assure you that uh Mr. Major is going to come in. He's got the right attitude. I think he possesses the leadership skills to be able to draw people and push them and make them be the best versions of
themselves. So I have nothing else to add to that other than unless the board would like to hear.
Jack MarianoChair
I would but I just want to make one comment too, Mike. I think when Sally left, you made an awesome pick, bringing in Rob Marin. Um he's focused, as he says, nothing but on culture. The responses I'm getting now from the staff has been phenomenal. And I think with that same type of culture being pushed forward, we're gonna see even more and more success. So so far so good. And I and I like said I I respect every one of your decisions of who you brought in so far. Sure. Roy?
Roy Major
Good afternoon, uh Member of the Commission Roy Major. So um You know, initially I like to thank Mutt Mike uh and the group in the interview panels for you know giving me this honor that there's no question that to serve with this group Would be probably the absolutely the apex of my career. You know, as Commissioner spoke, I have a great mix of public-private experience. And to blend that experience at
this time of my career and apply that to the benefit of the community is what I want to do. Um Every one of those panels Uh asked me right out of the box You know, why did you leave? Everybody wants to know that. You know, and Um you know, it it comes really down to the the frustration of the situation. Yeah, and the lack of rapport and relationship. that
it seemed the leadership Of our group. had. They just we didn't have a relationship with other departments, with other with other groups in the county, and it made it very difficult to collaborate. Um and tasks were assigned and you'd go about your business, but we were told not to engage, you know, kind of with certain groups of the county. And and that resignation letter w is just um discusses uh my frustration and
is absolutely what that was all about. You know, was that the worst resignation letter ever written? Uh likely so.
Uh likely so. But you know I'm
kind of a have an old school mentality or an old school demeanor that if I have, you know, an issue or somebody's got an issue with me, you know, we we we go and we talk about it. and we work through it and when you're not Um And when you're really not sure. Allowed to do that. uh on the terms that you want. Um it's a very difficult place to work. Um and then he also also, you know, part of that resignation letter there were opportunities,
you know, and so that's what happened. You know, it was a very difficult, very frustrating place to work. Um When I found my way around the system a little bit. and and collaborated with other parts of the county, some good things happened. Some good things happened. Um, but it was just a very difficult, frustrating place to work, you know. Who takes a job for a year? I didn't leave the private sector. My boss is sitting right there. you
know, one of the top engineering firms in the region. They don't leave there to come and work for a place for one year and then and then take off without extreme cost. And so uh that's that's the situation. It was just very, very frustrating and difficult to work through it. Um That's where I left.
Kathryn Starkey
But now in the future.
Roy Major
And so, you know, those things. I'm sorry. I'm I'm
Kathryn Starkey
I just go let's
Roy Major
go forward. Let's go. And so and so that's where I'm going here. You know, those things are gone. Those those impediments are in the past. And um I would just share at lunch today. Uh I had lunch with some staff. And there's some good things going on here people, you know, and I think the group needs a catalyst. uh to help bring those ideas together and and work across departments. I know you have, you know, uh some new folk in uh in public works
who I I look forward to getting to know and some I know very well. And so I think there'd be kind of unprecedented levels of collaboration between development services and public works on numerous scales. And so Um I think you know my professional uh And technical uh ability is is right what the county needs right now. I think I have that blend of private public sector experience. And I think I'm I I just think this is the right time in my career to to step in and really be that catalyst
to take the county to the next level.
Jack MarianoChair
Okay. Any further discussion? Do we have a motion?
Unidentified speakerVoice B
Move approval. Second.

CA-23-5025

Official title

Every appearance1 of 1 are in a recording