The abrupt resignation of Sara Bowers as the City Manager for Defuniak Springs never made the SoWal Forum...my guess as to why...it's not about SoWal. However, it is worthy of discussion.
Sara Bowers found herself at the center of controversy last year involving the way she handled the investigation of allegations of racial harassment by two city police officers against a co-worker and their subsequent termination. That case went to arbitration and the city was forced to re-hire them because of violations of their employment rights until she terminated them a second time. That issue is still not resolved.
In her separation agreement with the city, Bowers will receive three months salary which has made the City of Defuniak liable for a total payout of approximately $53,874. That amount represents not only three months’ severance pay, which comes to an estimated $19,596, but also $10,533 and $14,861, respectively, for the 258 hours of vacation time and ¼ of the 1,454 hours of eligible sick leave Bowers accumulated since taking the position in 2012. Additionally, the city will have to pay $8,082 in benefits ranging from Medicare to dental insurance as well as $802.00 in taxes-on-leave payouts. Though none of these amounts are set in stone, Finance Director Tom Brown referred to them as being solid “ballpark figures” with regard to the separation and release agreement approved by the City Council at its March 28 meeting. (Source DFS Herald)
So, if I have all this correct from everything that has been printed by the media and official statements made by the City itself Ms. Bowers fired 2 DFS police officers which the City was then forced to rehire because of violations of their employment rights, who were then terminated again by Ms. Bowers. According to WZEP's new blurb about her abrupt resignation the City of DFS had scheduled a special meeting to discuss Ms. Bowers performance but the meeting was pre-empted by Ms Bowers resignation.
So where was the City Attorney (Clayton Adkinson) during all this mess? Well, he was busy preparing Ms. Bowers lucrative separation agreement with DFS and billing the City for his time even though he was not directed by the City to do so.
How nice! Ms. Bowers gets a cushy separation agreement drawn up by the City Attorney himself with no direction from Council and the taxpayers are left to foot the bill for not only Ms. Bowers agreement, but Mr. Adkinson's lucrative salary and the citizens are left with ongoing litigation in regard to the 2 terminated police officers.
It's is my fervent hope that one day the Citizens of Defuniak will tire of being held hostage by the current City Attorney and that the City will grow some kahunas and find a City an attorney who will do the biding of its constituents rather than a man who long ago got to big for his britches!
Sara Bowers found herself at the center of controversy last year involving the way she handled the investigation of allegations of racial harassment by two city police officers against a co-worker and their subsequent termination. That case went to arbitration and the city was forced to re-hire them because of violations of their employment rights until she terminated them a second time. That issue is still not resolved.
In her separation agreement with the city, Bowers will receive three months salary which has made the City of Defuniak liable for a total payout of approximately $53,874. That amount represents not only three months’ severance pay, which comes to an estimated $19,596, but also $10,533 and $14,861, respectively, for the 258 hours of vacation time and ¼ of the 1,454 hours of eligible sick leave Bowers accumulated since taking the position in 2012. Additionally, the city will have to pay $8,082 in benefits ranging from Medicare to dental insurance as well as $802.00 in taxes-on-leave payouts. Though none of these amounts are set in stone, Finance Director Tom Brown referred to them as being solid “ballpark figures” with regard to the separation and release agreement approved by the City Council at its March 28 meeting. (Source DFS Herald)
So, if I have all this correct from everything that has been printed by the media and official statements made by the City itself Ms. Bowers fired 2 DFS police officers which the City was then forced to rehire because of violations of their employment rights, who were then terminated again by Ms. Bowers. According to WZEP's new blurb about her abrupt resignation the City of DFS had scheduled a special meeting to discuss Ms. Bowers performance but the meeting was pre-empted by Ms Bowers resignation.
So where was the City Attorney (Clayton Adkinson) during all this mess? Well, he was busy preparing Ms. Bowers lucrative separation agreement with DFS and billing the City for his time even though he was not directed by the City to do so.
How nice! Ms. Bowers gets a cushy separation agreement drawn up by the City Attorney himself with no direction from Council and the taxpayers are left to foot the bill for not only Ms. Bowers agreement, but Mr. Adkinson's lucrative salary and the citizens are left with ongoing litigation in regard to the 2 terminated police officers.
It's is my fervent hope that one day the Citizens of Defuniak will tire of being held hostage by the current City Attorney and that the City will grow some kahunas and find a City an attorney who will do the biding of its constituents rather than a man who long ago got to big for his britches!
