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Escambia Restarts Administrator Search; Touart Can’t Apply
July 19, 2013
An obviously frustrated Escambia County Commission decided Thursday that George Touart won’t be the next permanent administrator and to start over on the hiring process.
The Commission voted 3-2 to restart the search process and hire an outside firm to conduct the search. Touart will not be allowed to apply for the position but will remain on an interim basis until a permanent administrator is named. The commission set a goal of hiring a new administrator as early as December 1 but no later than February 28. The outside search firm will cost the county up to about $20,000.
Commissioners Steven Barry and Grover Robinson said it was not fair for Touart to be on the top five list of considered applicants because he is already serving as the county’s top unelected official. As such, the county’s human resource director — who headed the current search process to date — works for Touart.
There were 63 applicants for the administrator’s job. Of those, about 40 were qualified. A selection committee appointed by the commissioners whittled that number down to five, including Touart.
A motion was made by Barry Thursday to remove Touart from the applicant list and forbid him from making personnel changes among high level staff members without permission from the commission.
Robinson offered another motion to prevent Touart from becoming the next administrator, hire a outside search firm and set the December 1 to February 28 goal for having a new administrator in place. Commissioners Gene Valentino and Wilson Robertson voted against the motion.
Comments
32 Responses to “Escambia Restarts Administrator Search; Touart Can’t Apply”
The next thing you know they will be dedicating a bust of him in city hall or a statue down there at that park where the hobos hang out.
Yes, George needed to get a Florida government job (city, county or state) for another three months +/- to get his full pension from the Florida state pension fund.
His ill fated attempt at getting elected failed big so he wrangled his way back as County Admin. after he talked Gene and Wilson into getting Oliver fired.
He was already vested in the county pension fund.
He is now fully vested in the state pension fund and does not need one more day.
It will go like this………………
The BOCC will find reasons to extend his employe as long as GT desires to work.
Heck, competing for a contract is just a formality when you can get your contract renewed indefinitely, right?
Remember that when GT was hired back, Gene himself was quoted as saying it was only a temporary thing. He just did not define what he meant by temporary.
During this time he will be allowed to carry out any vendettas he desires. Also firing county employees for no reason, hiring his pals or BOCC pals for no apparent need.
Along with being allowed to spend taxpayer dollars where ever he desires i.e. more county contracts with taxdollars being spent on frivolous things and charities that only exist on paper.
Shell companies such as the three owned by Touart along with other shell companies owned by his pals will miraculously be award millions of BP oil spill RESTORE Act funds.
Won’t matter that those companies will have never done such projects ever before.
They will get the contracts with low qualifications, low bids and then have cost over-runs swiftly approved when ever demanded.
Laws are made by those that benifit from them
It appears that many people don’t like their elected officials. Did you vote? Do you go to any meetings and complain or make your wishes known? If not, then you have no reason to complain because you are the ones who let them do as they please.
this is the reason why the city of Detroit has went bankrupt, by paying for years and years these so called “men of the people” for their “service” to the folks of Escambia county ,…….I’ll say it again if you are paid more from the public sector for the same job in the private sector then it is not “service for the people” ,……..its robbery……..thanks to Grover and Steven for their common sense in the matter its time to get rid of those pushing for this crook to continue to steal from the people of this county ,….whatta say there Gino or Wilson………
This just was a move to stall for time to let old George get his retirement. He has said all along his just wanted to get vested in the Fl retirement system and this will let him make it. We all think they did a good job stopping Gene and Wilson but really they got what they wanted. Now that it will take till November, he will have been on the job long enough to be vested.
The joke is on us and we fell for it. WAKE UP!!
I’m wondering why we the tax payers are having to pay $20,000 for an outside firm to find qualified applicants….Correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t that one of the job requirements of the HR Department….When the HR Department narrows the list down(which has already been done) then all the information is reviewed and if any of them have any special ties to anyone that would benefit them then they are not offered the position….how hard can this be? The whole Escambia County Government is corrupt and has been for some time, we might as well have our current President on the County Commission….By the way, I did not vote for the current President or the current County Commission.
Well…there is an opening on the Santa Rosa Island Authority management staff.
Now lets get rid of gene and wilson.
Bewildered: If you remember when the issue of Touart coming back was voted on it was a 3 for and 2 against vote. So not ALL of the commissioners currently seated voted to bring him back.
Beware……….Touart needs restrictions on what he can do with personnel and with county money.
He may very well make a Magaha Move before he leaves office.
You know damn well that he will be working overtime to see that he and his cohorts secure as many county contracts as possible.
@ Robert S: I live in District 2 also and have voted against Valentino the last 3 elections, but unfortunately it seems as if other District 2 voters cannot see through his smoke and mirrors and for the con man than he really is. My conscious is clear and I have let it be known by my vote that Valentin is not welcome.
I am pleased that my previous comment stirred up a little controversy. Sorry to say (I would be better off financially) I have absolutely no connection with Mr, Touart or anybody else in a position of power in Escambia County. I simply believe that all members of the County Commission wanted (for unknown reasons) this man to continue holding the position of County Administrator for as long as possible. .If it was not to benefit Mr, Touart financially because they felt obligated to him, then it must have been for their own benefit. The commissioners who will run for re-election all of a sudden seem to listen to the wishes of their constituents, while the ones on their way out don’t care either way. Either Mr, Touart or the Commissioners will have achieved by the end of this year what they set out to do before a new captain takes command.
Bewildered,
Is your last name Touart?…
Gotta’ be Geno or Robinson…
Ah maze zing that someone would post that logic or should I say…lack of knowledge…
May even be….WD Childers!
What am I missing here, why did the CC’s have to start the process over? Why not just have George Touart remove his name and select one from the remaining four?
A sincere thanks for District 5 commissioner, Mr. Barry for using common sense and integrity in his management style regarding our county government. The people of Escambia County have long been fed up with the self serving politics we have seen for way too long. People of Escambia County…it is time we hold our elected government officials to a higher standard of accountability.
Oh boy. Another failed attempt by our favorite crybaby commissioner Val. I guess we will hear about this for months now that ole Gene didn’t get his way.
WOW….talk about a Very Pleasant surprise.
About time, GT has put in enough time for his retirement and needs to vacate any public offices.
Need to have a good honest viable candidate come forward for District 2.
High time for Gene to hit the bricks.
Thank you Steven Barry, you are a breath of fresh air. We are proud to
have you as our commissioner in District 5. Please continue the path
you are on.
The way our County Commission is being run, is a shame. All of the
people I have talked to about you, (Mr. Barry), we feel we finally have
someone who will at least try to help the people who voted for you.
The entire County Administrator Selection was a huge FAIL.
Fail: Fired previous administrator apparently because he did not follow the micro management of the BOC.
Fail: Hired Touart despite the fact he hurriedly resigned before he would likely face termination.
Fail: put in process a flawed in house selection scheme assuring long term employment for Touart.
Fail: Disregarded selection process when Touart was not selectable hopefully due to voter input.
Be wary of the rascals.
Come on bewildered, you don’t see a conflict of interest in this. Suppose you worked directly for Touart and the committee selected another individual and out of an act of revenge, before he exits the office, he decides to fire you and everyone else that works for him. You would have no recourse. I applaud Barry and Robinson for the decision they made to exempt him from being hired and prevent him from firing anyone. As another poster has said finally someone to stand up to the GOBs and no cower to the whims of Valentino and Robertson.
Bewildered,
Is your last name Touart?
The voters need to remember this Administrator Selection is a huge “FAIL”.
Fail: Fired Adminstrator because he had pursued his ideas for progress.
Fail: Hired Touart as Interim Administrator for unknown reasons after he previously resigned before he could be fired.
Fail: Conducted in house search perhaps knowing that Touart could be selected.
Fail: Applicants were poorly treated, demonstrating for all our failed BOC.
Win: Assuming that the voters contacted their commissioner as did I to let them know the commissioner would lose their vote if the charade was allowed to continue.
Be wary of the rascals.
@ bewildered
“His pension records with the Florida Division of Retirement and/or the stipulations in his contract of employment with Escambia County are strictly his business…”
Sorry, I disagree, since he is being paid with our tax dollars! Sunshine law is still in effect in Florida.
This 3-2 vote would not have been possible without that third vote by Commissioner Lumon May, who I am proud to say is the Commissioner in my district. Thank you Mr. May and thank you Commissioners Barry & Robinson for a level headed decision. It’s nice to see the two new commissioners taking their jobs seriously and questioning people’s intentions. Also, a special thanks to the three commissioners (Barry, May, & Robertson) who did the right thing, stood up for the 4-H kids, stood their ground and voted down Dr. Nick Place’s recommendations.
I won’t sit on the band wagon applauding any of the commissioners. Nobody can legally tell somebody they cannot apply for a position! Applicants may see the writing on the wall and not apply in the first place.. I think this whole first round of the hiring process was a stalling plot for time. The Commission wants Mr. Touart in place as long as possible (until the end of the year or longer). I won’t speculate as to why Mr, Touart is willing to vacate his post after the end of the year. His pension records with the Florida Division of Retirement and/or the stipulations in his contract of employment with Escambia County are strictly his business. .
Renew faith in the system, not all good old boys. Thank you Mr Barry and Mr Grover!
The last of the Dixie Mafia.
Finally…something for the people…
Go away George…take the two CC that voted for you as well…
I am thankful Commissioner Barry and Commissioner Robinson were watching out for the residents and the county. Their integrity and commitment on behalf of Escambia County’s future is greatly appreciated. I am proud to say I voted for Mr. Barry. It’s too bad I can’t say that about some other folks workin’ on the taxpayer dime. Thank you, Commissioners Barry and Robinson!
“THANK YOU”! BARRY & GROVER. It’s about time someone stand up to Gene & Wilson. There pant’s has gotten to big! They WORK for us! Instead us working for them. They need to go. Time to vote out and retire. Need a new genaration to service.
Commissioner Barry stood up yesterday and called out the crazy direction that this hiring process was going in. With Touart, Valentino, and Robertson giving almost weekly plugs for hiring Touart permanently and consistently calling the applicant pool selected “weak”, who would want to apply for a job with this county?! Thank you to the three commissioners who voted to take the interim out of the running.
The behavior of the Chairman and Mr. Touart in the recent meetings that I have watched has been unprofessional and often outrageous. Commissioners Valentino and Robertson have seemed intent on only getting their agenda and were angered when others disagreed, to the point of making silly, unsubstantiated innuendos about the other commissioners.
I applaud our District 5 Commissioner, Mr. Barry, for not letting them get away with that type of intimidation and his willingness to speak out for things that he sees as wrong or unfair. In addition, he comes to the meetings well prepared and listens intently to those speaking, asking good questions. I rarely (if ever) see him get up and leave the room during a meeting.
Keep up the good work!