Our View: Century Council Shouldn’t Be Firing Squad
May 24, 2013
The Century Town Council was forced to seat itself as a “firing squad” of sorts Thursday afternoon, terminating a lower level employee with an attendance problem.
The employee, even by his own accounts, was repeatedly late for work in the mornings and late returning from lunch, and numerous times over recent weeks he simply failed to show for work without calling his supervisors. The employee agreed with Mayor Freddie McCall that his termination after over four years of employment was justified after he had already received fair warnings and reprimands.
Under Century’s own employment rules and regulations, the mayor is the town’s top boss, but the mayor can’t fire an employee without a vote of the town council. And, under those same town rules, the Mayor can’t make his termination recommendation known until a special meeting of the firing squad — the town council — begins.
Florida’s Sunshine Laws stipulate that public notice be given prior to all special council meetings, which, of course, draws the local media. Now the afternoon show with the employee in the cross hairs of the firing squad has turned into a public spectacle.
We understand and appreciate that employment records in Florida, for the most part, are public record. The employee’s termination is, and should be, public record. But should a public circus be made over firing a town laborer?
We think not, and the council apparently agrees. The mayor and the council discussed Thursday afternoon the need to look at the employment regulations of nearby governmental bodies and find a model that allows for lower level employee terminations to take place without a full-blown public meeting. Employee files would remain, as required by law, public record, so everything would remain above board and still “in the sunshine” as required by the Sunshine Law.
Does the Escambia County Commission call a special meeting to terminate a janitor, a secretary or a dump truck driver? Does the City of Pensacola assemble a special council meeting to terminate a maintenance man or a receptionist? No….those terminations are handled in the chain of command in place in the city or county. And as Century’s top boss, we believe the mayor should be able to terminate a laborer for documented poor work attendance.
Employees that serve at the pleasure of the council and are hired by the council — department heads and the town clerk — should still face a termination hearing before the council if the need arises. And in the case of any alleged employee wrongdoing or mishandling of money or property, the council, and thus the media and the public, should be involved.
As for the employee terminated Thursday, he performed a quality job for the town at a very minimal salary for years, except for the recent attendance issues. The mayor says he’ll give the employee a positive review, and the employee had an amazingly positive attitude for someone who had just received his pink slip.
The name of the fired Century employee is public record, as are the names of the janitors, official personnel, laborers and other non-management employees that have been terminated in recent years by Escambia County or the City of Pensacola. The media and the public have the right to obtain those names and employee files.
But local media outlets, NorthEscambia.com included, did not report on the terminations of those low level Pensacola and Escambia County employees because their firings were in the course of ordinary business. So in this case, we choose not to report the name of a laborer so publicly lined up before a firing squad Thursday. If the town had not been forced, by its own regulations, to call a public meeting, we would not have been involved in this employee issue at all.
You, as a member of the public, have a right to make a public records request for the man’s name, or for that matter the name of the last secretarial employee terminated by the county. And we support your right.
Rest assured, we will always report on the termination of government employees accused of wrongdoing, or upper level employees, department heads or managers that are terminated by the board or council they serve.
We call for the Century Town Council, again as they expressed they already wish to do, to quickly revisit town employment regulations to avoid such public firing squads as assembled Thursday.
Pictured top: The Century Town Council sits as a “firing squad” during a special meeting to terminate an employee Thursday afternoon. Pictured inset: Mayor Freddie McCall address the council. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Aaron “Bill” Rackard, Sr.
May 24, 2013
Mr. Aaron “Bill” Rackard, Sr., 93, passed away on Wednesday, May 22, 2013, in Atmore, Alabama.
Mrs. Rackard was a native of Huxford and a resident of Atmore for most of his life. Mr. Rackard was a Veteran of WWII, was in the U.S. Navy and Boiler Makers Union. He is preceded in death by a wife, Annie Rackard, two sons, Aaron Rackard, Jr. and Jackie Rackard, one daughter, Billie Jo “Bit” Moorehauser, parents and a brother.
Survivors include Wife, Betty Rackard of Atmore; one son, Robert “Bobby” Rackard of Cape Coral, FL; two stepsons, William Jerry Wiggins, Jr of Bay Minette and Israel Dewayne Wiggins of Atmore; four daughters, Jill Abrams of Pennsylvania, JoAnn Welch of Shamong, NJ, Gail Reburton of Shamong, NJ, and Johnni Ruth Chapine of Shamong, NJ; two stepdaughters, Tammy Smith of Bratt and Sharon Stewart of Mobile ; two sisters, Lois Amos of Poarch and Wynice McGhee of Poarch; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Saturday, May 25, 2013, at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. James Baker officiating.
Pallbearers will be Jason Rackard, Larry Flurnoy, David Gehman, Garris Sells, Joe Frank McGhee and Jerry Hawkins.
Burial will follow at the Poplar Springs Cemetery.
Visitation will be Friday, May 24, 2013, from 6-9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Albert “Papa Ceta” Jackson
May 24, 2013
Mr. Albert “Papa Ceta” Jackson, 109, of Atmore (Freemanville community) died Thursday, May 16, 2013, at his residence.
He was a member of Mt. Gilead Baptist Church in Freemanville and served his country as a member of the Buffalo Soldiers. At the time of his death, he was one of the oldest residents in Atmore and Escambia County, Ala. and was an avid drinker of Dr. Pepper. He had recently been awarded a year’s supply of Dr. Pepper by the Pepsi-Cola Company in Atmore. His most noted scripture was the Fifth Commandment (Exodus 20:12), “Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.”
Four brothers, Nathaniel Jackson, Richard Jackson, Joseph Jackson and Willie Jackson; and four sisters, Lucy Rabb, Alberta Thomas, Annie Louise Johnson and Lizzie Mae Thomas preceded him in death.
Those left to cherish the legacy of Mr. Jackson are nine devoted nieces and nephews, Obie Lewis Johnson and Elois Johnson both of Atmore, Annie M. Wesley of Atlanta, Jahaser (Leroy) Sass of Moncks Corner, SC, Ella F. Brown of Riegelwood, NC, Georgia M. (Preston) Jones of Clearwater, FL, Eric (Johnnie M.) Johnson of Vista, CA, Gideon G. Johnson of Monroeville and Connie Linda (Nathaniel) Royal of Warner Robbins, GA; and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 25, 2013, at Mt. Gilead Baptist Church in Freemanville with the Rev. Robert Davis, pastor, officiating. Retirement of his remains with military honors will be in the Pierce/Rabb Cemetery in Freemanville. Public viewing will be held from 2:00 until 8:30 p.m. Friday, May 24, 2013, at the funeral home and a family hour will be held on Saturday from 10 a.m. until service time at the church with Turner Funeral Chapel, LLC directing
Jesseca Miller Williams
May 24, 2013
Jesseca Miller Williams passed away on Wednesday, May 22, 2013, after a lengthy illness. Jesseca was born on July 22, 1985, in Pensacola.
A loving mother, daughter, sister and friend, Jesseca loved to go to the beach or the river and spend time with her friends and family. Jesseca also enjoyed shopping and spending time with her children.
Jesseca captivated the hearts of everyone around her.
Jesseca is survived by her parents Ronny Miller (Becky), and Sherry Chance (Ray); her children, Destanyann Miller, Noah Williams, and Cole Harris; her stepchildren, Cameron Dansalan and Adrian Dansalan; her soulmate Santee Dansalan; her sisters, Desere Downing and Crystal Holliday (Bobby); step-siblings, Faith Williams, Hope Livingston, and Brian Williams; nieces and nephews, Crystalyn Daly, Dathan Church, and Dakota Downing.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 28, 2013, at 12:30 p.m. at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with funeral services immediately following at 1:30 p.m.
A graveside service will then follow at Highland Baptist Church Cemetery in Molino.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of services.
Alice Welch
May 24, 2013
Alice Welch, 81, of Cantonment, peacefully passed away Tuesday, May 7, 2013. Born in McKinley, ME, to Raymond and Mary (Norwood) Carter, both preceded her in death. Also preceding her in death were two brothers, Harry Davis and Raymond Carter, Jr. and two sisters, Rebecca Torrey and Beatrice Carter.
After graduating from Pemetic HS, Southwest Harbor, ME, she enlisted into the Women’s Army Corps and served from 1950-1953, where she met and married (in 1953) the late Charles Welch, the love of her life. Soon after, she requested to leave the Army, and received an honorable discharge. She was an Army wife for over 24 years. She worked at Homestead AFB BX and then as a filing clerk at the DMV in Tallahassee. She took several college courses in art and horticulture and loved gardening and ladybugs (we think of her when we see one). She loved to travel and visit family. She leaves behind five daughters: Nora Atkinson & husband Larry (KY), Bonnie Conlon & husband Patrick (FL), Cheryl Call (NC), Mary Wiggins & husband Robert (NC), and Jill Willis & husband Christopher (GA); 14 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and sister Linnie Loring, (ME).
Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 28, 2013, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home South, 100 Beverly Parkway. Interment with military honors will follow in Barrancas National Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Faith Chapel 30 minutes prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The American Diabetes Association , or the charity of your choice .
Faith Chapel Funeral Home South is in charge of arrangement.
Robert Leon Driver Jr.
May 24, 2013
Robert Leon Driver Jr., 85 of Cantonment was called home to Glory on May 22, 2013. Mr. Driver was a member of Farm Hill Holiness Church and was a World War II veteran.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Bonnie Driver and his daughter, Rita Goodwin.
He is survived by his daughters, Susan (Danny) Slay, Molino, Karen (Guy) Driver, Pensacola, and Teresa (Dale) Hunter, Pace; grandchildren, Robert (Beth) Slay, Molino, Melony (Eddie) Barnard, Pace, Shena (Scott) Enfinger, Pensacola, Donald (Natalie) Goodwin Cantonment, Chip (Nicole) Hughes, Pace, April Hughes, Seattle, WA, and Ashley (KC) Ditmore, Pace; 14 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson, Liam Parker, due in June and many nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be KC Ditmore, Chip Hughes, James Thornton, Cody Enfinger, Danny Hunter Slay and Donnie Goodwin.
Visitation was held Thursday, May 23, 2013 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North.
Funeral Service will be held at 11:30 a.m., Friday, May 24, 2013, at the funeral home with Pastors Clyde Hughes and Rodger Emmons officiating. Interment will follow at Pensacola Memorial Gardens.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 Hwy 29 South, Cantonment, is in charge of arrangements.
Curtis Kennedy, Jr.
May 24, 2013
Mr. Curtis Kennedy, Jr., age 65 of Flomaton passed away on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, at his home.
Mr. Kennedy was a native and lifetime resident of Flomaton where he was a self-employed carpenter. He was of the Holiness faith and attended the First Apostolic Church. Mr. Kennedy is preceded in death by his parents, Curtis and Lucille Driskell Kennedy and sister, Nancy Darby.
He is survived by his sons, Timothy (Jennifer) Wilson of Flomaton, Casey (Paula) Kennedy of Brewton, Brian (Lena) Kennedy of Spanish Fort, AL, Curtis (Tina) Kennedy of Pensacola, Alex Kennedy of Flomaton, and his daughter, Myrtis ‘Dee’ Kennedy of Jay; 11 grandchildren and a special friend, Mavis Kisner of Flomaton.
A memorial service will be held for Mr. Kennedy at a later date.
Clayton Trent Adams
May 24, 2013
Mr. Clayton Trent Adams, 25, of Wolflog Road died Monday, May 20, 2013, from injuries sustained in a automobile accident. He was a native of Milton and a longtime resident of Flomaton. He attended the Flomaton school system and was employed by Parker and Sons Construction Company.
He is survived by his father, Wendall (Rita) Adams of Flomaton; his mother, Ruby (Zeke) Cutts of Flomaton; his grandmothers, Kay (Curtis) Johnson of Flomaton, and Bertie Adams of Pollard; two brothers, Brent (Becky) Adams and Caleb (Meagan) Adams, both of Flomaton; two step-brothers, Thomas Turk and Caleb Turk, both of Flomaton; three stepsisters, Miranda Cutts, Makayla Cutts and Miriah Turk, all of Flomaton; four nephews, Hayden Lopez, Holdyn Adams, Harper Adams and Brody Turk; two nieces, Analia Payne and Brooklyn Turk; and a special uncle, James “Wildman” Adams.
Funeral services were held Thursday, May 23, at 11 a.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Reo Pugh officiating. Burial followed in Pollard Cemetery with Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home directing.
DOJ Report: Escambia Jail Unsafe, Understaffed
May 23, 2013
A report released by the U.S. Justice Department has found that conditions inside the Escambia County Jail routinely violate the constitutional rights of prisoners.
The DOJ concluded that known systemic deficiencies at the jail, mainly due to staffing shortages, continue to subject prisoners to excessive risk of assault by other prisoners and to “clearly inadequate” mental health care.
The five-year investigation also found that until recently, the jail had an informal policy and practice of designating some of its housing units as only for African-American prisoners. By segregating some of its prisoners on the basis of race, the jail not only stigmatized and discriminated against many of its African-American prisoners, it also fanned combustible racial tensions within the jail.
Escambia County Sheriff’ David Morgan has warned the Escambia County Commission about the woeful conditions in the facility, which houses roughly 1,300 prisoners. His recently submitted 2013-2014 budget request to the commission includes a request for an $18.8 million increase. A portion of the increase was specifically requested to hire 83 additional detention deputies along with 12 detention assistants for $6.3 million.
The beginning of the DOJ investigation coincided with Morgan taking office, and the report praised his efforts to improve conditions.
“We commend Sheriff Morgan for his willingness to work aggressively to remedy many of the problems brought to his attention during the course of our investigation,” said Roy L. Austin Jr., Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division.
Some of Morgan’s improvements included the implementation of a formal prisoner classification system, improvements in monitoring the use of force, development of a prisoner grievance process, increase use of surveillance cameras, retrofitting cells to decrease suicide risk, improvements to female housing, addressing the needs of prisoners with physical disabilities and improved medical procedures.
But the DOJ’s report still found numerous issues, many related to inadequate staffing.
The report found:
- Prisoner on prisoner assaults are a common occurrence at the jail, making the facility unsafe for prisoners.
- A March 2011 study gave county officials insight to the severe staffing problems at the facility.
- Jail leadership fails to appropriately monitor and track prisoner on prisoner violence and the use of force by staff on prisoners.
- The decades-long practice of housing some prisoners in black-only pods was discriminatory, fanned racial tensions and contributed to prisoner perceptions that the jail favors white prisoners over black prisoners. The practice ended in 2012.
- The jail does not provide adequate and timely access to appropriately skilled mental health professionals, routinely fails to provide appropriate mental health medications, and provides inadequate housing and observation for prisoners with serious mental illness. The report found about one prisoner per month is sent to the hospital after self-injury as a result of a clearly inadequate mental health program.
“Without an adequate complement of security personnel, (the) Escambia County Jail cannot possibly keep its prisoners safe,” the report found.”Until the Jail addresses staffing shortages, the Jail will remain unsafe.”
Additionally, staffing shortages have crippled the jail’s ability to conduct a sufficient number of cell searches to protect both prisoners and staff from serious harm due to contraband and potentially dangerous items. According to the DOJ, only 41 cell searches were conducted across the entire facility during a one year period.
The sheriff and county have 49 days to reach an agreement with the Department of Justice on how they plan to correct the staffing and additional issues at the jail. If no agreement is reached by the deadline, the Attorney General may file a federal lawsuit.
Escambia County Names New Lake Stone Caretaker
May 23, 2013
The Escambia County Commission has named a new caretaker for the Lake Stone Campground near Century.
Since the inception of the Lake Stone Campground, the county has entered into an agreement for on-site caretaker and management services at the facility. Mervyn Simmons, who has served as the caretaker since February 2009, has submitted his resignation.
He will be replaced by Dennis Keith Cole under the same contract terms. Cole will be compensated at $850 per month with housing and utilities provided.