Anderson
BRADENTON BEACH – Former Bradenton Beach City Clerk Jamie Anderson’s Island homecoming proved bittersweet.
Last week, Commissioners Jack Clarke, Ed Straight and Jan Vosburgh voted to dismiss the city clerk hired in January.
They rejected Mayor Bill Shearon’s recommendation that Anderson be retained and granted the career service status that would have provided full rights and benefits at the completion of her six-month probationary period in July.
During the same meeting, the commission voted unanimously to retain and grant career service status to City Treasurer Sheila Dalton. Dalton was also hired in January, when the commission created the treasurer’s department and made her and Anderson department heads of the restructured administrative offices.
Dalton will receive a previously agreed upon $5,000 raise that increases her annual salary to $55,000. Anderson worked within the same salary structure.
Although mentioned as a factor in Anderson’s dismissal, Deputy Clerk Tammy Johnson will serve as acting clerk and department head until a new clerk is hired or an alternative short-term solution is found.
The commission did not play an active role in the search process that preceded Anderson’s hiring, but will in the search for her replacement. It was agreed that July 7 would be the cut-off date for applicants, and familiarity with Florida Sunshine Laws is mandatory.
Each commissioner will review the applications, provide the mayor with their top three choices and participate in the interview process leading up to his hiring recommendation, which they can accept or reject. Commissioners hope to name a new clerk at the July 17 meeting.
What went wrong?
During the Thursday, June 12 meeting, City Attorney Ricinda Perry provided a summary of the individual evaluations submitted by each commission member.
Basic concerns included whether Anderson had become a Florida notary and a member of the Florida Clerks Association.
Larger concerns included the former Yucca Valley, California clerk’s knowledge of Florida Sunshine Laws, her role in a problematic computer conversion conducted by Friendly IT Management and her inability to supervise Johnson, her deputy clerk.
“One of the biggest points that came across in the evaluations was the management of her subordinate employee,” Perry said.
Johnson’s friendship with the mayor and his girlfriend, Tjet Martin, put Anderson in a difficult position regarding the supervision and discipline of her sole employee.
“Three elected officials recommended dismissal and two recommended retaining her,” Perry concluded.
Before making a motion in support of Shearon’s recommendation to retain Anderson, Vice Mayor Janie Robertson suggested extending her probationary period.
“I think that it’s extremely premature and unfair,” she said of an evaluation based on less than five months’ service.
Perry explained that the career service status is granted automatically six months after the date of hire. The process cannot be extended, and an employee cannot be terminated without cause after that time.
When Robertson’s motion died for the lack of a second, Clarke made the motion to dismiss.
“The city has provided Ms. Anderson with a fair and effective adjustment period. This commission has observed and evaluated Ms. Anderson’s job performance and has determined that she should be dismissed,” he said.
Clerk’s comments
Anderson grew up in Holmes Beach and maintained close ties to the Island during the three decades she and her husband lived in California. The couple relocated to their Longboat Key vacation home when Anderson reported to work in early February.
Anderson addressed the commission before Perry revealed the evaluation results.
“I am a damn good city clerk, given the chance to do my job,” she said.
She reminded commissioners that Friendly recommended the computer upgrades and said her office prepared agenda packages and minutes for 68 meetings in four and a half months.
She also addressed the discord and disharmony she discovered in her new workplace.
“I look forward to the day when the turmoil eases up and everyone can work together as one cohesive group for the good of the residents and visitors of this beautiful little city,” she said.
Anderson also prepared an exit statement. After her dismissal, she handed it to Perry and left without further comment.
“Due to the atmosphere in the city, I don’t feel I was given a fair chance to shine. This office has been unfairly under attack since the day I arrived. I was warned to watch my back from all directions. Who I needed to guard against depended on which direction the advice was coming from,” her statement said.
“What a great place this would be if as much time and energy was devoted strictly for the good of the city as has been devoted to undermining duly elected officials. Frankly, life is too short, and this place is too beautiful and too small for all the animosity that is shown for each other,” she concluded.