The Grand Jury for Walton County issued a Report this afternoon regarding, among other issues, the Walton County Planning Department, Recreation Fees, a Clerk's Audit of the Planning Department and the actions of County Administrator Larry Jones and Commissioner Cindy Meadows.
Replies
164
Beach Fanatic
First...I know Hal Laird. I cannot picture him being hostile to a citizen. Insubordination? This isn't the military or the Sheriff's Office.
I still wonder how you reprimand a county commissioner. During the 1970's the governor removed one of our commissions from office mid-term; I remember it as my father was unlucky enough to get the appointment to fill out the rest of the term. Whereas the County Commission can reprimand the County Administration, there is no one to reprimand the County Commission. Perhaps they are relying on public embarrassment or the voters to handle it. The problem with that is, in spite of this bump in the road, Ms. Meadows is very responsive to her constituents. Two years from now no one will remember this.
I still wonder how you reprimand a county commissioner. During the 1970's the governor removed one of our commissions from office mid-term; I remember it as my father was unlucky enough to get the appointment to fill out the rest of the term. Whereas the County Commission can reprimand the County Administration, there is no one to reprimand the County Commission. Perhaps they are relying on public embarrassment or the voters to handle it. The problem with that is, in spite of this bump in the road, Ms. Meadows is very responsive to her constituents. Two years from now no one will remember this.
Banned
John G...Jason Catalano (as far as I know) works for the Planning and Development Dept as a Code enforcement officer not a county planner and was elected to the School Board in 2014.
No one ever said nepotism doesn't exist in Walton County either.
No one ever said nepotism doesn't exist in Walton County either.
Beach Fanatic
John G...Jason Catalano (as far as I know) works for the Planning and Development Dept as a Code enforcement officer not a county planner and was elected to the School Board in 2014.
No one ever said nepotism doesn't exist in Walton County either.
Misty:
My facts are correct and true.
Jason Catalano WAS a code enforcement officer. But let's start at the beginning.
He was hired on as C. Jones' personal aide/assistant her first go around as commissioner. He was a Roofer prior to that.
Once her term was up, she helped get him the job at Code Enforcement, he had Zero Experience, yet was immediately hired. His hourly rate was higher that most.
He was quickly promoted to Senior Code Enforcement Officer. His hourly rate was higher than most.
The County just hired Mr. Catalano as a Planner 1. He was selected for this Planner position over several far more qualified candidates. Several had Masters Degrees in Planning or similar fields.
Care to explain that? Sounds like we need another Grand Jury...
Banned
First...I know Hal Laird. I cannot picture him being hostile to a citizen. Insubordination? This isn't the military or the Sheriff's Office.
I still wonder how you reprimand a county commissioner. During the 1970's the governor removed one of our commissions from office mid-term; I remember it as my father was unlucky enough to get the appointment to fill out the rest of the term. Whereas the County Commission can reprimand the County Administration, there is no one to reprimand the County Commission. Perhaps they are relying on public embarrassment or the voters to handle it. The problem with that is, in spite of this bump in the road, Ms. Meadows is very responsive to her constituents. Two years from now no one will remember this.
The only recourse Citizens really have are Ethics Complaints and I'm not so sure that's even a viable option. Filed enough of them to know that. Criminal penalties which applied to violation of Ethics Codes were eliminated in 1974 in favor of "administrative enforcement".
Banned
Misty:
My facts are correct and true.
Jason Catalano WAS a code enforcement officer. But let's start at the beginning.
He was hired on as C. Jones' personal aide/assistant her first go around as commissioner. He was a Roofer prior to that.
Once her term was up, she helped get him the job at Code Enforcement, he had Zero Experience, yet was immediately hired. His hourly rate was higher that most.
He was quickly promoted to Senior Code Enforcement Officer. His hourly rate was higher than most.
The County just hired Mr. Catalano as a Planner 1. He was selected for this Planner position over several far more qualified candidates. Several had Masters Degrees in Planning or similar fields.
Care to explain that? Sounds like we need another Grand Jury...
Again John G...No one ever said nepotism doesn't exist in Walton County. It does.
No one ever said C Jones isn't guilty of doing favors for friends and family either. We ALL know she does.
I was a tad surprised to learn that C. Jones husband and Bill Eddins are quite the bosom buddies though.
Edited
Beach FanaticAuthor
Misty wrote: "Two years from now no one will remember this."
I agree. Unfortunately for Commissioner Meadows, the election is in eleven months.
My understanding is that Commissioner Jones' husband and Bill Eddins grew up together in Ponce de Leon. It's a pretty small place. I would think two young boys who grew up together there would almost certainly be bosom buddies.
I agree. Unfortunately for Commissioner Meadows, the election is in eleven months.
My understanding is that Commissioner Jones' husband and Bill Eddins grew up together in Ponce de Leon. It's a pretty small place. I would think two young boys who grew up together there would almost certainly be bosom buddies.
Banned
Misty wrote: "Two years from now no one will remember this."
I agree. Unfortunately for Commissioner Meadows, the election is in eleven months.
Actually I didn't say that ShallowsNole did.
However, I do think Meadows is now aware her days are numbered.
Going to be interesting to see who runs for her seat.
Banned
My understanding is that Commissioner Jones' husband and Bill Eddins grew up together in Ponce de Leon. It's a pretty small place. I would think two young boys who grew up together there would almost certainly be bosom buddies.
No implications intended with that comment...just wasn't aware and was surprised to find out they were so close.
Beach Lover
My understanding is a guy I believe named Tony Anderson has picked up a packet from the Supervisor of elections to run against Mrs. Meadows. Word I got is he is a retired mail carrier from either Freeport or Defuniak and has moved to district 5 and rented a house. He will be backed by many developers and the small business association. I've never heard of the guy until yesterday. If anybody knows who he is, please try and confirm or deny that information. I expect it to be interesting. After the Hampton Inn issues, I expect this next election to be citizens vs small businesses and developers. Whoever raises the most money will win. That's the way Walton politics seem to roll....
Beach Fanatic
Danny, I am certainly not interested in returning to the days where the Commissioners oversee employees. They hire a staff who are to see day to day operations. If a Commissioner doesn't like the way something is going, then there is a process for them to follow.
Bob, I was not advocating returning to that system officially. But the truth is the system returned without any accountability. Don't forget we had a commissioner less than two months ago trying to take away a pay raise from an employee and fire a director for giving a raise that the Chairman of the Board publicly stated was granted by following BCC policy. But that one commissioner told the director not to do it and thus was insubordinate in her opinion, despite what policy said. That director was then forced out. Lets stop the hypocrisy and the double talk or blasting one commissioner for doing the same things the rest are doing simply because you don't agree with them or you agree with the others.
Beach Fanatic
My understanding is a guy I believe named Tony Anderson has picked up a packet from the Supervisor of elections to run against Mrs. Meadows. Word I got is he is a retired mail carrier from either Freeport or Defuniak and has moved to district 5 and rented a house. He will be backed by many developers and the small business association. I've never heard of the guy until yesterday. If anybody knows who he is, please try and confirm or deny that information. I expect it to be interesting. After the Hampton Inn issues, I expect this next election to be citizens vs small businesses and developers. Whoever raises the most money will win. That's the way Walton politics seem to roll....Last I heard from her she wasn't going to run again.
Developers have always had "their guys" in races. Some of the candidates and backers ended up with ethics violations and fines. Puppets make the worst politicians.
Beach FanaticAuthor
Truman: Taking your statement as truth, maybe some of the "anti-developers" should support candidates that don't step all over themselves when they assume office. What does that say about the people that support the "non-puppets." Not slamming you, just saying that by your calculus, the "good guys" keep turning into "bad guys." Exhibit #1: Pedophile Lane Rees. Kinda indicates the "developers" may actually be the grown ups in the room.
Banned
Ya know...regardless of who the players are in this, who ratted out who, whether you like or dislike the politicians or the State Attorney (personally, I don't like most of them) at the end of the day something good has already come out of this. Aside from the money not being recoverable, the Grand Jury sent a very clear message to the BCC about micro-managing County employees, how they are expected to conduct themselves and that County employees need to be able to do their job without fear of retaliation. That ones a biggie for me because I have always contended retaliation in Walton County is real and employee fears are justified. You just don't know how real it is until you have been on the receiving end of it.
But the best part of this is that the County has been instructed or its been recommended that they conduct and operational and forensic audit. The BCC owes that to the Citizens of this County who pay their salaries. If they don't follow through it would strongly suggest to most people there is more to hide.
Get it done Commissioners, you owe it to all of us!!
But the best part of this is that the County has been instructed or its been recommended that they conduct and operational and forensic audit. The BCC owes that to the Citizens of this County who pay their salaries. If they don't follow through it would strongly suggest to most people there is more to hide.
Get it done Commissioners, you owe it to all of us!!
Beach Lover
Now WHY is Commissioner Meadows so interested in the Planning Department? Answer that.
Banned
Now WHY is Commissioner Meadows so interested in the Planning Department? Answer that.
From the Grand Jury Report it sounds like there was a more concerted effort to keep people UN-interested in the Planning Dept. How else could $8000.000 disappear in 2008 and no one from the County know about it until 2015?
Beach Fanatic
Now WHY is Commissioner Meadows so interested in the Planning Department? Answer that.She has a professional background in planning and has been involved in planning issues in Walton County for over 20 years. And she's been on the right side of issues as far as I know. She has been on the side of residents and has been beaten up pretty badly by the "ole boys" in the past but is still standing. But I can't imagine anyone can live in the political system long and remain in their right mind. The moral compass has to start spinning as well.
Beach Fanatic
Walton County officials issued a statement following the release of the Grand Jury report about problems in the county's planning department.
"The County appreciates the work and effort that has going into this report and understands the Grand Jury’s desire to assist the County in making operational improvements. Some of the recommendations are already being implemented and those efforts will continue. Others will be reviewed by the Board for further action," wrote Louis E. Svehla, Public Information Manager for the Walton County Board of County Commissioners. "We all strive to make Walton County Government the best it can be and we look forward to utilizing this report to enhance those efforts."
He added that the board will take up the discussion of this item during their regularly schedule board meeting on Tuesday, October 13th in the South Walton Annex Boardroom.
The statement stems from a grand jury indictment against Patsy D. Blackshear the former planning director for the Walton County was unsealed Thursday.
Jurors determined that Blackshear committed perjury by lying under oath about whether or not she had knowledge about a $600,000 miscalculation involving recreation fees.
Jurors also recommended that Florida’s auditor general be called in to perform forensic and operational audits on the planning department.
The Grand Jury also recommended that County Administrator Larry Jones and District Five Commissioner Cindy Meadows be reprimanded for their involvement in employee issues.
In particular one person with connections to Meadows was hired with “little input” from the department supervisor. Despite having no experience for this position the employee was hired at a higher salary than others already working in an identical position.
In another instance Jones terminated an employee at Meadows request. While no charges were filed Jury members emphasized that County Commissioners should not be involved in day to day operations.
"The County appreciates the work and effort that has going into this report and understands the Grand Jury’s desire to assist the County in making operational improvements. Some of the recommendations are already being implemented and those efforts will continue. Others will be reviewed by the Board for further action," wrote Louis E. Svehla, Public Information Manager for the Walton County Board of County Commissioners. "We all strive to make Walton County Government the best it can be and we look forward to utilizing this report to enhance those efforts."
He added that the board will take up the discussion of this item during their regularly schedule board meeting on Tuesday, October 13th in the South Walton Annex Boardroom.
The statement stems from a grand jury indictment against Patsy D. Blackshear the former planning director for the Walton County was unsealed Thursday.
Jurors determined that Blackshear committed perjury by lying under oath about whether or not she had knowledge about a $600,000 miscalculation involving recreation fees.
Jurors also recommended that Florida’s auditor general be called in to perform forensic and operational audits on the planning department.
The Grand Jury also recommended that County Administrator Larry Jones and District Five Commissioner Cindy Meadows be reprimanded for their involvement in employee issues.
In particular one person with connections to Meadows was hired with “little input” from the department supervisor. Despite having no experience for this position the employee was hired at a higher salary than others already working in an identical position.
In another instance Jones terminated an employee at Meadows request. While no charges were filed Jury members emphasized that County Commissioners should not be involved in day to day operations.
Beach Fanatic
In particular one person with connections to Meadows was hired with “little input” from the department supervisor. Despite having no experience for this position the employee was hired at a higher salary than others already working in an identical position.
In another instance Jones terminated an employee at Meadows request. While no charges were filed Jury members emphasized that County Commissioners should not be involved in day to day operations.
I don't know what really happened but I can guess. Meadows got tired of beating her head against the wall and tried to do an end around to get someone in the planning department to clean up the mess. Someone who's not part of the ole boy network or owned by developers. A last resort to try and get things on track. Improper? Probably. Nefarious? I doubt it.
At any rate, the truth will emerge.
Beach Crab
I don't know what really happened but I can guess. Meadows got tired of beating her head against the wall and tried to do an end around to get someone in the planning department to clean up the mess. Someone who's not part of the ole boy network or owned by developers. A last resort to try and get things on track. Improper? Probably. Nefarious? I doubt it.
At any rate, the truth will emerge.
Beach Crab
The truth has emerged. There have been several long term employees that have excellent annual employee reviews, given raises, promotions and then released within months. Their termination was not implemented by the direct department supervisor but by commissioner requests. Every voter needs to stay informed. Actions speak louder than words!
Beach Fanatic
Rubber stamped annual reviews with employees all recieving "excellent" evaluations and then failing to perform duties (as uncovered by people outside the county) are nothing more than lit fuses on the promotional rockets strapped to certain "chosen ones" rear ends...
Anyone with any managerial experience knows you dont just check the top score across the board. EVERYONE has room for improvement.
Florida is at At Will Empolyment State. Fired at any time for any reason.
If a County Policy was not followed, then it should be corrected. If you want to talk about violation of County Policy, get ready to open Pandoras Box as the alleged non-use of a "direct department supervisor" argument will go out the window. There are dozens of examples of this but you dont see anyone but the Commissioner they are out to get being named... (at least not yet)...
What about the Road Department Guy in C. Jones' district?
Anyone with any managerial experience knows you dont just check the top score across the board. EVERYONE has room for improvement.
Florida is at At Will Empolyment State. Fired at any time for any reason.
If a County Policy was not followed, then it should be corrected. If you want to talk about violation of County Policy, get ready to open Pandoras Box as the alleged non-use of a "direct department supervisor" argument will go out the window. There are dozens of examples of this but you dont see anyone but the Commissioner they are out to get being named... (at least not yet)...
What about the Road Department Guy in C. Jones' district?
Banned
Walton County officials issued a statement following the release of the Grand Jury report about problems in the county's planning department.
Give credit where its due Dawn and quote your source. Didn't that article come from WZEP?
I don't know what really happened but I can guess. Meadows got tired of beating her head against the wall and tried to do an end around to get someone in the planning department to clean up the mess. Someone who's not part of the ole boy network or owned by developers. A last resort to try and get things on track. Improper? Probably. Nefarious? I doubt it.
So what you're telling us is that Meadows did what the "good ole boys" have been doing for eons? Nepotism isn't right regardless of whether or not its a "good ole boy" doing it or a more enlightened counterpart. I actually like Ms. Meadows but using "good ole boy" tactics hasn't even worked well for the actual "good ole boys" and it certainly did not bode well for Ms. Meadows.
Banned
P.S. The fact that Cecilia Jones does it and gets away with it but the Grand Jury didn't call her out speaks volumes too!
It pays to have "friends" in "high places"!!
It pays to have "friends" in "high places"!!
Beach Fanatic
So what you're telling us is that Meadows did what the "good ole boys" have been doing for eons? Nepotism isn't right regardless of whether or not its a "good ole boy" doing it or a more enlightened counterpart. I actually like Ms. Meadows but using "good ole boy" tactics hasn't even worked well for the actual "good ole boys" and it certainly did not bode well for Ms. Meadows.
No I think she was trying to break the cycle. But I admit I don't know all the facts and will wait to see more come to light. I'm not going to defend her or condemn her until I know what happened. Let's get the facts straight without all the innuendo and negativity.
I understand sometimes it's better to hire someone who is smart and capable, loyal and trustworthy, over someone more experienced who is cozy to developers and the old guard.
Nepotism? Did she hire or try to have hired a member of her family?
Banned
No I think she was trying to break the cycle. But I admit I don't know all the facts and will wait to see more come to light. I'm not going to defend her or condemn her until I know what happened. Let's get the facts straight without all the innuendo and negativity.
I understand sometimes it's better to hire someone who is smart and capable, loyal and trustworthy, over someone more experienced who is cozy to developers and the old guard.
Nepotism? Did she hire or try to have hired a member of her family?
Nepotism isn't limited to just family.
nep·o·tism
ˈnepəˌtizəm/
noun
- the practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs.
In particular one person with connections to Meadows was hired with “little input” from the department supervisor. Despite having no experience for this position the employee was hired at a higher salary than others already working in an identical position.
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