In Depth: Clerk-Elect Pam Childers Letter To Employees
January 8, 2013
The following letter was sent from Escambia County Clerk-elect Pam Childers to employees:
January 4, 2013
Dear Fellow Employees:As your incoming Clerk of Court, I would like to take this opportunity to wish each of you a Happy New Year. I trust that you and your families enjoyed the holiday season, and I look forward to getting to know you and working with you beginning Tuesday.
I am sending you this letter so that there will be no confusion or misunderstanding about my intentions for this office going forward. My goal is not to “clean house,” nor is it to make life difficult for you. My job, as the elected Clerk of Court and Comptroller, is to serve the taxpayers in a fiscally responsible and efficient manner.
I want to inform each of you about the efforts that my transition team has made since the primary election to ensure a smooth transition for you, for the taxpayers, and for the agencies we serve. I started the transition process by requesting an internal transition team; however, I was met with a response many weeks later that I could meet the leadership team consisting of five people in early November. Since that first request on August 23, 2012, I have made repeated requests for information, names and addresses of staff to initiate correspondence, meet with each of you individually, and other basic transitional access. My attempts for information were frequently delayed or not taken with priority. Communication with the outgoing Clerk was one way; never did he reach out to have a conversation to assist with the transition or provide an environment open to interaction.
In addition to these disappointing transition steps, since my election there have been several aberrant financial decisions. In summary, over $1,000,000 of additional personnel expenditures have been expended or committed during the transition period, as well as nonmonetary actions that adversely affect the ease of transition. These include:
- September 19, 2012 – Revision of the leave buyback policy from a fiscally conservative, limited policy to an unlimited plan that cost several hundred thousand dollars.
- September 2012 – Bonuses totaling $225,913 (lump sum 3% of salary), FY2012
- October 2012 – Pay raises of 4% totaling $290,000 annually (3% for management), FY2013
- November 2012 – Buyback of leave totaling $290,230, including individual requests of over 400 hours, FY2013
- Approximately 17 new hires (both full time and student positions)
- Promotions to the highest paid positions (Administrators and Directors)
- Employees physically relocated to other parts of the building.
- Long-term front office employees moved to outlying offices or transferred to other departments.
All of these transactions occurred within three months of the August 14, 2012 election, with two of the largest financial outlays taking place within weeks of that election.
Most troubling about these expenditures is the fact that none of them appear to have been part of a clear budget process. In researching the budget submissions to both Escambia County and the Florida Clerk of Court Operations Corporation (CCOC), it appears that neither the FY2012 nor the FY2013 budgets included or projected employee bonuses or raises. Moreover, the Escambia County Commission specifically asked Constitutional Officers, who are funded by county revenues, to refrain from giving raises; likewise bonuses were never expected to occur. As a result, it appears that none of these expenditures was approved by the funding agency.
Budgets for most, if not all, Florida governmental agencies have been tight for over five years. Most government employees at the state and local levels have not had raises during this period of time. In fact, only four years ago the Clerk’s office had to layoff twenty (20) upper level and key staff employees because of a fiscal crisis, making these recent expenditures even more puzzling.
It is for these reasons – a lack of transparency and full disclosure on the part of the outgoing administration, unbudgeted financial expenditures, and questionable employee policies- that as of January 8, 2013, the pay raises for Clerk’s employees given on October 8, 2012 will be suspended pending further budget review and audit. This decision is based on an effort to protect Clerk’s employees from layoffs due to these unexpected, unexplained, and imprudent financial decisions by the outgoing administration. Without adequate information and justification from my predecessor and his administration, these unbudgeted expenditures cannot continue without potentially incurring employee layoffs.
For twenty years I have worked at the City of Pensacola finance department. I have been in your shoes, I have faced the challenges you face. I know that this decision will cause difficulties for some of you, and that many family decisions are made based on financial expectations. I firmly believe that each of you is deserving of these raises, but for the sake of all of us and out of respect for the taxpayers whom we serve, we must be wise and prudent.
Hopefully this letter has given you some perspective on my decisions and my efforts to reach out to you prior to now. I would have preferred to meet with all of you personally, but unfortunately that was not permitted by the outgoing Clerk during this transition. I look forward to talking with you at an introductory meeting I have scheduled for Friday, January 11, 2013 at 7:15am to talk about my plans for the future.
Sincerely,
Pam Childers
Clerk-Elect
Jerry Kelley
January 8, 2013
Jerry Kelley, a 67 year old resident of Jay, went to be with the Lord on January 6, 2013, after a courageous battle with ALS. He was born on January 7, 1945, to Perry Kelley and Bessie Chavis. Jerry retired from Exxon/Mobil after 32 years of service. He was a member of Grace Baptist Church. Jerry was a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Myrtle Lee Diamond, Mary Bovia and Shirley Tidwell; and two brothers, Houston Kelly and Wayne Kelley.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Walterene Chancery Kelley; one daughter, Kathy Kelley Petersen; one son, Jerry Randall Kelley II; two grandsons, Michael Kelley and Dylan Kelley and one granddog, Cricket; three sisters, Paula Whitfield (Frank), Ann West (Ben), and Joan Struebing (Jeff); and three brothers, James Kelley (Jean), Buck Kelley (Glenda) and Tink Kelley (Annie Ruth).
The family will receive friends at Jay Funeral Home on Wednesday, January 9, 2013, from 6 p.m until 9 p.m.
Funeral services will be held at Cora Baptist Church on Thursday, January 10, 2013, at 11 a.m. Interment will be at Cora Baptist Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Dr. Jeff Kelley, Cliff Brown, Justin Duncan, Benjie West, Michael Morgan, Jeff Struebing, Mike Kelley, and Brenton Kelley.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
School Board Approves North Escambia School Personnel Changes
January 8, 2013
The Escambia County School Board approved several North Escambia teacher and staff transfers, resignations, and appointments during their last meeting.
The school board made the following changes among teachers and staff at schools across North Escambia:
Instructional/Professional Appointments
- Sami L. Amico, teacher, Ernest Ward Middle
Out of Field Appointments
- Leonard R. Sellers, Ernest Ward Middle
- Leslie R. Sellers, Northview High
Resignations, Retirements
- Christina M. Grey, teacher, Tate High
- Clinton Lott, assistant principal, Tate High
Leaves Of Absence
- Candice R. Blackburn, teacher, Molino Park
- Jill M. Laborde, teacher, Bratt Elementary
Education Support Appointments
- Pamela K. Averill, custodial worker I, Ransom Middle
Education Support Temporary Promotions
- Virginia J. Smith, food service assistant I to food service assistant II, Jim Allen
Education Support Resignations, Retirements
- Eunice M. Mooney, food service assistant I, Bratt Elementary
Inmate Passes Away On Alabama’s Death Row
January 7, 2013
An inmate on Alabama’ s death row has passed away of natural causes.
Alabama Department of Corrections death row inmate Clarence Leland Simmons,74, was pronounced dead at approximately 12:38 a.m., on Monday, January 7. Simmons died of multiple chronic illnesses with final cause of death pending autopsy results from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. Simmons passed away in the healthcare unit at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore.
Convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death out of Jefferson County on January 9, 1998, Simmons served 16 years, 11 months, and 29 days on Alabama’s death row.
Pictured: Alabama death row inmate Clarence Leland Simmons seen in an undated photograph.
Body Found In Baldwin County Identified As Escambia Woman
January 7, 2013
Human remains found last month in Baldwin County have been identified as a Pensacola woman missing since October.
Bones found in Baldwin County on December 17 are those of 55-year old Nancy Craycraft, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Craycraft had been missing since October 19 when she was seen leaving Chan’s Nightclub on East Nine Mile Road. Her vehicle was discovered in Baldwin County on October 21.
In November, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said they had interviewed the man last seen in Craycraft’s company. He was not charged with any crime.
The remains were identified with the assistance of DNA testing by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Escambia and Baldwin County investigators are continuing to work together on the case.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
A Warming Week
January 7, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. East wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67. East wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Showers likely. Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 56. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 70. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 61. East wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 73. Southeast wind around 10 mph.
- Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. South wind around 5 mph.
- Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
- Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 76.
- Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60.
- Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71.
Escambia’s Child Death Rate Among State’s Highest
January 7, 2013
A new report says Escambia County has one of the highest child death rates in the state.
The annual Statewide Child Abuse Death Review Committee report shows 100 children died in Escambia County in 2011. Four of those deaths were verified to be the result of child abuse or neglect.
There were only seven counties in Florida reporting more child deaths — all much larger counties like Orange, Duval and Miami-Dade. Only six counties had more children die as the result of child abuse.
In Santa Rosa County, there were seven child deaths reported, with one of those deaths the result of child abuse or neglect.
Statewide, there were 126 child deaths verified to be the result of abuse or neglect in 2011, 62 of those were caused by drowning or unsafe sleeping practices with infants.
So many of these deaths are preventable,” said Department of Children and Families Secretary David Wilkins. “By working together, we can all do more to educate parents and caregivers and prevent these tragedies in the future.”
Some of the report’s findings include the following:
- The number of child deaths in Florida continues to decrease.
- Children under four are at the highest risk of dying, especially from preventable causes such as drowning and co-sleeping.
- Domestic violence intervention in families’ lives can prevent some child abuse deaths.
- Neglect is the leading factor in verified child deaths. Drowning is the top cause.
The Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Children and Families (DCF) worked collaboratively with the Statewide Child Abuse Death Review Committee, local death review teams, law enforcement, prosecutors, medical professionals and prevention specialists to identify risk factors associated with these types of deaths and to develop training on preventive measures.
Century Council To Consider Water Rate Hike
January 7, 2013
The Century Town Council considered a water rate hike at Monday night’s regular council meeting.
The town is considering an overall 10 percent rate hike to be implemented with an immediate 5 percent increase and additional 5 percent increase six months later.
If the ordinance passes, the rate for the first 1,500 gallons of water will increase to $9.45 on February 1 and increase again to $9.90 on August 1. Each additional 1,000 gallons will be $2.27 on February 1 and $2.49 on August 1. Sewer rates will remain the same at $13 for the first 6,000 gallons of water used.
The rate increase would be the first in the Century since 1995. In the past, the town has had difficulty applying for, or receiving the full amount of, federal grants for the water system because Century’s rates were markedly lower than surrounding areas.
The first reading of the ordinance was held during the town’s regular council meeting Monday night, with a second reading and vote scheduled for 7 p.m. on January 28.
Tonight: BCS National Championship Or Century Town Council Meeting?
January 7, 2013
Despite the BCS National Championship game tonight, the regular first Monday night meeting of the Century Town Council will be held as usual, according to town officials.
The Century Town Council meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Century Town Hall. The next meeting of the council, normally scheduled for the third Monday night of the month, has been rescheduled to January 28 due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. All meetings are open to the public.
The BCS National Championship game between Alabama and Notre Dame kicks off just after 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Tate Grad Leads Alabama’s Million Dollar Band
January 7, 2013
A Tate High School graduate led the University of Alabama’s Million Dollar Band during Monday night’s BCS National Championship game.
Drum major Benjamin Carmichael is a 2009 Tate graduate. This is his fourth year with the Million Dollar Band and this third National Championship performance. He served as trumpet section leader for two years before being named drum major this year. He will graduate from UA with a degree in mechanical engineering in May and will enter graduate school in the fall.
Carmichael marched for four years in the Tate High Showband of the South.
Pictured: University of Alabama Million Dollar Band drum major Benjamin Carmichael, a 2009 Tate High School graduate. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.