Commission unhappy with sudden removal of a Manatee County Children's Services Advisory Board member

MANATEE -- A week after a Manatee County Children's Services Advisory Board child advocate was abruptly removed from the board by county staff, the Manatee County Commission continued discussing the matter at Tuesday's regular meeting.

Following a County Attorney's Office investigation of an alleged conflict of interest, Jennifer Radebach, CEO of New Path Academy, was notified last week she was no longer on the board. The commission was then notified in a memorandum email sent the day before a joint session with the Children's Services Advisory Board.

"We think there is a better way to do this than the way it was done," Commission Chairwoman Betsy Benac said. "We are going to adjust something."

Chief Assistant County Attorney Rob Eschenfelder said the County Attorney's Office will draft an addition to the board's procedural manual to ensure it won't happen again. The county commission, which appointed Radebach to the board in August, was not told beforehand about the removal.

"I'm glad we are going to do this policy because it wasn't handled well," Commissioner Carol Whitmore said.

Radebach was one of five child advocates on the board. Child advocates cannot receive county funds for the organizations they work with or represent, per county ordinance.

According to county staff, two organizations Radebach has been or is affiliated with -- Children's Academy of Southwest Florida and New Path Academy -- have received county funds through the Early Learning Coalition, which receives funding through the children's services tax.

The commission appointed Radebach to a three-year term Aug. 11. The term began Oct. 1.

After addressing the commission for 10 minutes Tuesday, Radebach said she has "no desire to be reappointed to the CSAB."

"I have done nothing wrong, and this board of county commissioners is going to hold me to a higher standard, which I usually attain, then hold everyone to that same standard, including yourselves, and truly make the CSAB conflict-free," she said. "You have defamed my character and opened yourselves up to a compromising situation. Why? If you want a truly conflict-free board, then you either advertise for almost all of the seats or you amend the ordinance."

Radebach listed other members she believes to have conflicts.

Eschenfelder, however, said it's his understanding "everyone else on the board is free of any disqualifying factor about them," from Brenda Rogers, Community Services Department director.

Commissioner Charles Smith said the commission chair could notify the individual in the future and "things should be done decent and in order."

"My concern is when this board makes an appointment to any board, no matter what the ordinance says, that this board here is the only board who can remove someone," Smith said.

"The chairwoman of this board should have been briefed on the issue from the county administration."

Commissioner Robin DiSabatino said she didn't like how "this whole thing went down." "It should come back to this dais for interpretation," she said. "This has just been mishandled."

Commissioner Vanessa Baugh said the board should move forward.

"We can only strive to perhaps do better in the future," Baugh said.

Benac, who brought up the conflict at the Oct. 6 commission meeting, said: "This was not a pretty picture for any of us. I certainly apologize if anyone was hurt by this. We have to work together as a team. ... We just have to keep the best interest of the community in mind in everything that we do."

Claire Aronson, Manatee County reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7024. Follow her on Twitter @Claire_Aronson.

This story was originally published October 20, 2015 at 11:52 PM with the headline "Commission unhappy with sudden removal of a Manatee County Children's Services Advisory Board member ."