Manatee County OKs raise, new contract for admin despite complaints. ‘The public has lost trust’
County Administrator Scott Hopes earned a raise and an extended contract Tuesday despite recent calls for an investigation into how he manages the government and a high-level employee’s resignation.
The Manatee County Commission’s decision came during a contentious public meeting Tuesday morning. Board members battled and quipped as they discussed a controversial letter from Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller Angel Colonneso, who questioned some of the changes that Hope had implemented in the past year.
After three hours of debate, commissioners set aside demands from board members and county residents for a full investigation into Hopes and elected to renew the administrator’s contract with certain changes.
“If the clerk of the court wants to continue an investigation, she has every right to do so, as she oversees the inspector general,” said Commissioner George Kruse. “And if she comes back with something that’s above and beyond speculation or hearsay or rumors in the media, then we’ll of course listen to it like we do with every report that comes back to us.”
Under his new contract, Hopes will receive an annual salary of $215,000 for a roughly 4% raise along with deferred compensation, which works similarly to a 401(k) retirement plan. The contract also removes the $450 monthly car allowance and prevents Hopes from earning a salary increase raise without the board’s approval.
Speaking during the meeting, several residents and board members asked county leaders to put Hopes on paid administrative leave while an outside party investigated the allegations detailed by Colonneso.
“I am a supporter of Dr. Hopes and the reason why I want an investigation is to clear his name,” said Commissioner Misty Servia. “I think that we have to clear his name so that he can go on serving this community, because right now the public has lost trust. We’ve got to rebuild trust in this community, and we do that by uncovering everything in transparency for the public to see and to get answers to the very serious allegations that were brought forward.”
“I’m very disheartened to hear that you don’t want to investigate,” Sarah Parker, a Sarasota County resident, told the board during public comment. “The investigation would let the community trust you. If you didn’t do anything wrong, why do you have anything to hide?”
A letter of complaints
Just days before Tuesday’s meeting, Colonneso sent commissioners a letter with several complaints about how Hopes has led the county’s government. She said there has been “very limited communication” with her office, which has resulted in “delays and inefficiencies” and wasted taxpayer dollars.
The clerk’s letter questioned the county’s procedures for responding to public records requests, Hopes’ decision to reorganize county departments, and the administrator’s regular use of a new county-owned truck.
Colonneso, who was elected in 2016, said she’s used to working closely with the county administrator and raised her concerns so that the board could correct them.
The clerk also attended Tuesday’s meeting to clarify that Hopes is not currently under investigation but that the allegations she raised are part of a routine audit.
“Things are happening at a rapid pace, and I needed to let you know before today,” Colonneso said. “I’ve done my duty, but you know what you do is your policy from here.”
Several commissioners spoke in defense of Hopes’ job performance over the past year. Hopes, who previously served on the Manatee School Board, was hired to lead the county’s 2,200-employee workforce in April 2021.
“I don’t feel that our county administrator is being treated fairly and he’s done a terrific job under the circumstances,” said Commissioner Vanessa Baugh.
“When I go through the list of things I want done, is every single one of them done perfectly and as quickly as I would like? No, but overall, have I seen some serious movement in the right direction on the things I see that are important? I see a lot of movement in the right direction during this past year,” added Commissioner James Satcher.
High-level staffer resigns, complains of Hopes
But other board members pointed to recent turmoil and staff resignations as a reason why Hopes should not receive a contract extension or a raise.
On Tuesday morning, Deputy County Administrator Jan Brewer, who has been a high-level staffer with the county for 10 years, submitted her resignation, pointing to issues with Hopes’ leadership.
Brewer’s letter raised some of the same concerns as Colonneso. She alleged that despite her status as a top county official, Hopes has cut her out of key communication with the departments she oversees.
“I now find myself in staff meetings wondering who has been told to keep information from me and if they are doing this action because of the fear of losing their job,” Brewer wrote in her resignation letter.
After hearing similar complaints from other staffers, some board members said they couldn’t justify giving Hopes a raise.
“I don’t think he deserves a raise,” said Commissioner Carol Whitmore. “I want to be fair to him. He’s a good guy. I just don’t think he’s a good county administrator.”
Board members agreed to minor changes to the employment contract before voting to approve it. Commissioners lowered Hopes’ salary from the $230,000 he requested during contract negotiations and changed the contract’s termination date to Sept. 30, 2023. However, the contract automatically renews every year unless the board decides to end it.
Commissioners Kevin Van Ostenbridge, Satcher, Baugh and Kruse voted in favor of the contract, while Commissioners Bellamy, Servia and Whitmore voted against it.
This story was originally published May 24, 2022 at 4:22 PM.
