Skip to main content

Tag: Dr. Scott Hopes

County budget includes tax cut and infrastructure investments

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Featured.

MANATEE COUNTY – Commissioners have unanimously approved the county’s 2021-22 fiscal year budget, which will take effect when the new fiscal year begins on Oct. 1.

When adopting the budget on Tuesday, Aug. 14, commissioners also approved a plan set forth by County Administrator Scott Hopes that will reduce by .2 mills the ad valorem property tax rate assessed by the county next year. According to a press release issued by the county last week, this will be Manatee County’s first property tax cut since 2008.

The millage rate decrease will result in many owners seeing an approximate $50 decrease in their next property tax bill, according to another release.

“The millage reduction is made possible largely by another year of significant increases in local property values. Under the current tax rate, rising values would have resulted in a $21 million increase in revenues over the current fiscal year. Instead, commissioners unanimously approved the .2 mill reduction, which returns $8.3 million to taxpayers,” the press release states.

“The board of county commissioners also approved the largest five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) in Manatee County’s history, totaling more than $997 million dollars of investments in infrastructure, public safety, parks and our environment. The county commission is investing $350.3 million in transportation projects, $80.3 million in parks, and $39.1 million in public safety projects,” the press release notes.

“Even with the millage reduction, the budget invests heavily in local infrastructure improvements. Nearly $350.3 million in transportation and road projects, plus significant investments in public safety and law enforcement highlight the $923 million budget. The adopted budget includes new investments in the county’s workforce to respond to increased capital projects workloads and service levels,” according to the press release.

The anticipated workforce increases include:

  • 14 new sheriff’s office deputies, one resource assistance program deputy to focus on homeless issues, one body-worn camera deputy to lead the education and training for new technology and one school resource officer.
  • 14 new positions in the Building and Development Services Department.
  • 12 new paramedics.
  • One new 911 telecommunicator, two 911 customer services representatives and one customer services representative for 311 data entry.

The list of county roads to be widened from two lanes to four lanes as part of the five-year CIP plan includes:

  • 59th Street West from Cortez Road to Manatee Avenue ($23.4 million).
  • 63rd Avenue East from U.S. 301 to Tuttle Avenue ($16.2 million).
  • 75th Street West from 20th Avenue West to Manatee Avenue ($11.1 million).

Commissioners’ comments

In one of the press releases, County Commission Chair Vanessa Baugh stated, “I think Dr. Hopes and (Chief Financial Officer Jan) Brewer have done a fabulous job in this budget. It is wonderful to be working on such a large infrastructure program to help the traffic congestion in our county because of the population growth and to give the citizens a reduction in millage for the first time since 2008.”

“We have embarked on an aggressive road improvement campaign while simultaneously cutting taxes. Major road improvements have been budgeted for District 3,” District 3 Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge stated in the release.

“With the increase in property values, we were fortunate to have $100 million more than we did last year. With the values on the rise and all the new construction, we were able to lower taxes and leverage a line of credit to get these roads and critical transportation needs going,” Holmes Beach resident and At-Large Commissioner Carol Whitmore stated in the release.

“You are seeing things move in the county at a rate in the county that you haven’t seen in some time. We are going to get a lot of things done,” Hopes stated in the release.

Law enforcement

According to the press release, “The largest one-year investment in the budget remains in the areas of law enforcement and public safety. Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells’ annual budget will increase by $12.6 million to cover funding for 14 new deputies, an additional patrol boat to expand marine responses, one resource assistance program deputy to focus on homeless issues, one body-worn  camera deputy to lead the education and training for new technology, one school resource officer and one Domestic Violence Unit Detective.”
“In partnership with Sheriff Wells, we have identified an increased investment to meet the safety needs of our rapidly growing population,” Hopes stated in the press release.

Acting county administrator’s job attracts 30 applicants

Acting county administrator’s job attracts 30 applicants

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Manatee County.

MANATEE COUNTY – Between March 8 and March 12, the Manatee County Human Resources Department received 30 resumes from individuals interested in serving as the acting county administrator.

Austin Rentsch, Camron States, Christopher Pomeroy, Dennis Sparks, Derod Joyner, Ken Klein, Lizsandra Ramirez, Michael Nagy, Patrick Marsh, Sangria’Le Fulger, Sarah Clough, Dr. Scott Hopes and Sharon Ann Eberman submitted their resumes by March 8.

Emily Gerken, Eric Cavender, Fabiana Monteiro, Hector Rivera Sr. and Joseph Lessard submitted their resumes by March 9. Ashley Jacobs, Jarvis Darnell Middleton, Kevin Foor and Tamara Nunez submitted their resumes by March 10.

Joseph Napoli, Leonard Sossamon and Shawn Henessee submitted their resumes by March 11.  Christopher Rose, Dr. Christopher Rodriguez, Jane Shang, Michael Brillhart and William Ward submitted resumes on March 12.

Although previously mentioned as possible candidates, former Manatee County School District Superintendent Rick Mills and Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance President and CEO Dom DiMaio did not apply for the acting administrator’s job. After being rejected by a 4-3 commission vote on Feb. 23, former Sarasota County Commissioner Charles Hines did not seek further consideration.

After receiving copies of the submitted resumes, each commissioner was asked to provide Human Resources Director Kim Stroud with as many as three preferred candidates.

The agenda for the Tuesday, March 23 Manatee County Commission meeting includes a 2 p.m. “presentation of candidates for the position of acting county administrator.” The agenda does not state whether the acting county administrator’s position could or would be filled that day if at least four of the seven commissioners support the same applicant.

Separation agreement

On Feb. 23, the county commission approved a previously negotiated $204,000 separation agreement that ended Cheri Coryea’s two-year stint as county administrator and her 30-year career as a county employee. During that meeting, the commission majority then opposed Hines serving as the acting county administrator according to the proposed contract negotiated by County Attorney Bill Clague.

Faced with the need for someone to immediately fill that role on a short-term basis, Deputy County Administrator Karen Stewart agreed to serve as acting county administrator until March 23 or soon thereafter. It was noted then that Stewart did not wish to serve in that role for an extended period.

During the commission’s March 4 land use meeting, Commissioners Reggie Bellamy, George Kruse, Misty Servia and Carol Whitmore voted in favor of advertising the acting county administrator’s position for a limited time. Commissioners Vanessa Baugh, James Satcher and Kevin Van Ostenbridge opposed advertising the position.

As he did on Feb. 23, Hopes, who currently serves on the Manatee County School Board, again expressed interest in serving as the acting county administrator. Hopes said he would resign from the school board if appointed to that position. He also expressed interest in serving as the county administrator on a long-term basis. During the land use meeting discussion, Van Ostenbridge and Kruse both said Hopes was their top choice at the time.

Commission approves $204,000 separation agreement with Coryea

Commission approves $204,000 separation agreement with Coryea

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Manatee County.

BRADENTON – Cheri Coryea’s two-year tenure as county administrator ended Tuesday evening after the Manatee County Commission approved a $204,000 separation agreement earlier that day.

Deputy County Administrator Karen Stewart will serve as acting county administrator until no later than March 23. By then, or before then, the commission expects to appoint someone else to serve as acting county administrator while the search for a permanent county administrator is conducted.

During Tuesday’s meeting, county commissioners voted 6-1 to accept the separation agreement negotiated by Coryea’s attorney and County Attorney Bill Clague. Clague noted the separation agreement is not a termination and is not a resignation. The agreement also ended Coryea’s 30-year tenure as a county employee.

The separation agreement calls for the county to pay Coryea a lump sum payment of approximately $204,000, minus taxes. Per the agreement, Coryea will receive 20 weeks of regular pay as established by her $192,000 annual salary. She will also receive 400 hours of paid leave (vacation time), 500 hours of sick leave pay and 197 hours of compensatory time pay.

Commissioner Carol Whitmore supported the separation agreement after she unsuccessfully proposed Coryea’s vacation pay be increased to 1,000 hours. Bellamy voted against the separation agreement as originally proposed. He said he could not support any motion that resulted in Coryea vacating her administrator’s position.

Before the 6-1 vote occurred, the commission rejected by a 4-3 vote Bellamy’s motion to discontinue the separation discussion and give Coryea one year to prove that she can move the county forward in a manner that satisfied the current commission.

Commissioners Vanessa Baugh, Kevin Van Ostenbridge, George Kruse and James Satcher opposed Bellamy’s motion. Bellamy and commissioners Misty Servia and Carol Whitmore supported Bellamy’s motion. Van Ostenbridge then made the motion to accept the separation agreement that now ends the commission majority’s previous efforts to terminate Coryea.

Previous termination efforts

In November, Van Ostenbridge proposed terminating Coryea for carrying out the previous commission’s directive to purchase a 161-acre property referred to as the Lena Road property for slightly more than $30 million. Van Ostenbridge, Kruse and Satcher – who were not in office when the property was purchased last fall – believe the county overpaid for that property. Coryea was then put on notice that her termination would be discussed and voted on in December.

Commission approves $204,000 separation agreement with Coryea
Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge proposed Coryea’s termination two days after he took office in November. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Before that December discussion occurred, Kruse had a change of heart and asked the commission to rescind the termination notice and give Coryea a chance to prove herself to the newly-reconfigured commission.

On Jan. 26, Kruse had another change of heart and he made a motion to again put Coryea on termination notice. Kruse made said he was making that motion in part because Coryea, at Commissioner Carol Whitmore’s request, arranged a one-on-one meeting between he and Whitmore to discuss affordable housing. That one-on-one meeting took place in a conference room on Jan. 22 and was also attended by Coryea and two other staff members and was recorded. During the Jan. 26 meeting, Clague said the Kruse-Whitmore meeting was conducted in compliance with the Florida Government in the Sunshine Law.

Although he willingly participated in the Jan. 22 meeting with Whitmore, Kruse then expressed remorse for doing so in response to the public backlash that followed in regard to how that meeting was publicly noticed and conducted.

Before making his motion to again put Coryea on termination notice, Kruse also acknowledged his own extramarital affair and suggested Whitmore might “blackmail” him due to her knowledge of his affair and her reported receipt of a photograph of Kruse and the other woman. Whitmore and her attorney, Brett McIntosh, vehemently denied Kruse’s unproven accusation of blackmail.

Baugh, Satcher and Van Ostenbridge supported Kruse’s motion to put Coryea on termination notice, which then resulted in the mutually-agreed-upon separation agreement instead.

Hines rejected

After approving the separation agreement, the commission engaged in another lengthy discussion regarding the appointment of an acting county administrator.

The commission ultimately voted 4-3 in opposition to hiring Venice-based attorney and former Sarasota County Commissioner Charles Hines to serve as acting county administrator.

Baugh, Kruse, Satcher and Van Ostenbridge expressed their respect for Hines, but voted not to appoint him as acting county administrator.

Commission approves $204,000 separation agreement with Coryea
The commission rejected Charles Hines’ offer to serve as acting county administrator. Joe Hendricks | Sun

To varying degrees, Baugh, Kruse, Satcher and Van Ostenbridge expressed concerns about the contract terms Clague negotiated with Hines. The proposed contract offered the same $192,000 salary Coryea received, called for a minimum contract length of eight months and included a housing allowance that Clague said was necessary because state statute requires county administrators to live in the county they serve.

Bellamy, Servia and Whitmore voted in favor of Hines serving as the acting county administrator.

Before the commission voted on hiring Hines, school board member Dr. Scott Hopes made his own pitch for the acting county administrator’s position, which at one point he said he would do for free and without a contract.

Commission approves $204,000 separation agreement with Coryea
School board member Dr. Scott Hopes offered to serve as acting county administrator. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Van Ostenbridge and Satcher mentioned Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance President and CEO Dom DiMaio as another potential candidate. Satcher also mentioned Rick Mills as a possible candidate. Mills is the former superintendent of the School District of Manatee County.

Van Ostenbridge said he prefers Hopes, but then said, “Dom DiMaio’s beating down my door. I’ve talked to Dom a couple times as well. DiMaio’s not here, but he seems pretty interested the way he blows my phone up.”

During public comment, Carol Felts expressed concerns about DiMaio’s connections with developer Carlos Beruff. She also opposed Hopes serving as acting county administrator.

As the commission struggled to appoint Coryea’s temporary successor, Clague stressed the need to have someone in that position that day because there are certain duties only the county administrator or acting county administrator can perform. Those duties include presenting the annual county budget and presenting for commission approval a candidate to replace Deputy County Administrator John Osborne.

Osborne left his county position on Feb. 16 – one day before Coryea’s termination was originally scheduled to be discussed and voted on. At the request of Clague and Coryea’s attorney, that meeting was then delayed until Feb. 23 to allow for time for the attorneys to negotiate the separation agreement.

Stewart appointed

After another short recess, the commission voted 6-1 in favor of appointing Stewart to serve as acting county administrator until no later than March 23. Whitmore cast the lone opposition vote to that motion.

Whitmore and Servia expressed concerns about Stewart being too busy with her current responsibilities to take on the additional duties of acting county administrator, even on a short-term basis.

One of Stewart’s current responsibilities as deputy county administrator is to oversee the distribution of the federal CARES Act funds that provide financial assistance to individuals and businesses who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commission approves $204,000 separation agreement with Coryea
Deputy County Administrator Karen Stewart will serve as acting county administrator until no later than March 23. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

It was noted that Stewart is not interested in serving as acting county administrator for an extended period of time or in serving as the next county administrator. Clague noted that Stewart would not be vacating her deputy county administrator’s position and will continue in that role once a new acting county administrator is appointed.

As a final action, the commission voted 7-0 to direct Clague to draft a proposed contract and an accompanying resolution for the appointment and hiring of an acting county administrator. Clague will present the proposed contract no later than the commission’s March 4 land use meeting, at which the commission expects to vote on whether to approve the proposed contract terms.

Van Ostenbridge said if the contract terms are approved on March 4, he anticipates a new acting county administrator to be appointed and hired according to those non-negotiable contract terms as early as the commission’s regular meeting on March 9.

The meeting ended a short time later with Coryea performing her final public act as county administrator. Surrounded by several department directors, and choked with emotion at times, Coryea presented the annual county administrator’s report for 2020. While doing so, she praised and thanked those staff members for all the assistance and support they provided her.

Coryea then returned to her office and worked until 9:30 p.m. before leaving the county administration building for the final time.