More Job Cuts by Walton County

[choctawjesse]

For those that are unaware - an assessment of each Department within the BCC controlled structure is being methodically made. We receive copies of each departments results and a careful read of the attached link might help some understand the process and how decisions for restructuring might be undertaken.

A close review of pages 20-29 might give a reader some insight.

http://www.waltontaxpayers.org/PDF Files/Org_AssessmentFire&rescue.pdf

Where can ordinary citizens get copies of the rest of them? I bet the fire dept. is not the only dept with big problems so when do their chiefs go? What about a dept doubling their senior staff in one year? Why hasn't anyone started putting a stop to that?

 

[NorthCounty]

Yeah, but is it good change. I guess we'll find out. Your point about old blood in the Planning department is well taken. I understand Pat's position is to be "absorbed" within the department.

After the reorganization of Growth Management she only supervised 5-7 employees yet was easily the highest paid person in the division. Cutting that position and salary may save several other jobs.

 

[WCTA]

Where can ordinary citizens get copies of the rest of them? I bet the fire dept. is not the only dept with big problems so when do their chiefs go? What about a dept doubling their senior staff in one year? Why hasn't anyone started putting a stop to that?

First let me say that I am an ordinary citizen. I know how to file a public records request, I regularly attend BCC meeting, and many BCC employee's know how to provide information to me as well as "regular citizens" through the WCTA Hotline. These studies are shared with the employee's when completed. There is nothing secret about them or our source(s).

I have added links to two other reports:

1.Assessment of Planning/Development Dept
2. The Action Plan deveoped as a result of the study

http://www.waltontaxpayers.org/PDF Files/Organizational Assessment - PlanningDevelopment.pdf

http://www.waltontaxpayers.org/PDF Files/Planning Development Division Action Plan.pdf

I would suggest that the reader pay close attention to the TABS beginning on pages 16 of the Assessment.

I will post links to more later.

BH

 

[Susan Horn]

WCTA,

WOW! Thank you for posting this information.

 

[Andy A]

Yes, I think Kurt welcomes and encourages a variety of opinions. Thanks for honoring mine. Sling away!

FYI, a couple of months ago, I was replaced as a Planning Commissioner, I believe by an appointee of Cecilia Jones. I think I served somewhere between 2-3 years, though I'm not really great at keeping track of time.

When I was appointed, there was no training provided to me as a new commissioner. I had to ask repeatedly just to have some time with one of the county attorneys to get a lesson on Florida Sunshine Law. I don't know for sure about the requirements for the makeup of the board, but I don't think any PC member is required to have any credentials in planning, design, etc. So, while it is indeed true that several Planning Commissioners have been on the board quite some time, as a new commissioner, I found their experience and knowledge essential in helping me learn to understand the very complex matters we considered at our meetings. Even when I disagreed with their opinions, I was grateful for their insight and for their explanations of issues that were not immediately apparent to me. Continuity has its value.

I want to stress that none of the members of the Planning Commission receives any compensation for their service. Every now and again, the Planning Department might find it in the budget to serve us a sandwich, and occasionally kind citizens would send pizza so we could grab a quick bite of lunch or supper during breaks (some of those meetings are VERY long). Serving on this board is a 100% volunteer job, and requires many hours each month of plan review and meetings, especially over the last year going through the Comp Plan amendment process.

I was happy to serve and honored to have been included in the process of the Comp Plan Amendment; my sympathies go out to my replacement who was appointed 12 months into PC meetings and still a ways to go. I cannot imagine how tough it would be to get up to speed at that point!

I'd like to sling a little bit right back your way -- there's no way you could have gotten a complete picture or sense of how the Planning Commission meetings work if you only attended one meeting, so I'm having a hard time putting too much stock in your opinion due to your limited involvment.

First of all, I am sorry to hear you have been replaced. I knew you were a relatively new board member and my references concerning "new blood" were not directed toward you.
Secondly, I fully understand your frustration with the lack of training regarding the functions of the Planning Commission. It is not an easy job and I am fully aware that is a volunteer position as it is on most Planning Commissions throughout the U.S. I am also aware it is an arduous and, at times, boring task with little reward.
I imagine by now you are asking how I have reached these conclusions regarding community planning. You stated you could put little faith in my conclusion from the attendance at only one meeting. You would be perfectly correct if it wasn't obvious that one or two persons on the board controlled the outcome of most of the decisions being made. In addition to this observation, it might have helped me to form such opinion since I sat on the Planning Commission in Moore, Ok. for over two years and my removal was due to, of all things, local politics.
I definitely appreciate your public service and laud you for it. While I understand the usefulness of continuity, it should be remembered you can have 20 years of experience or 1 year of experience times 20 years. There is a difference as I am sure you are aware.

 

[northmedicff]

I feel that this is a good move on behalf of the county. WCFR has been in complete disarray for the last 12 to 18 months. The previous administration had lost all respect from it's employees with no hope of ever regaining it due to several severe circumstances. I hate to see anyone lose their job in this economy, but the county's best interest has to be first & foremost. If you could find 1 employee of WCFR, before this happened, that thought the department was headed in a good direction, or even enjoyed their job you would be doing good. You know you are in a bad place when it takes actions such as this to increase morale in the department. It took this department several years to fall this low & will take several more to get it where it belongs.


To the question asking if Mr. Douglas has ?what it takes?......what qualifications did the previous Chief & Assistant Chief have to run the department? Mr. Douglas, along with 3 Battalion Chiefs & 3 interim District Chiefs, will continue to do their jobs & make sure this department provides the level of service expected from it.

 

[Salty]

I wonder if someone is planning on taking a look at the Sheriff's Office or are we going to let them contiue to spend money as if they are printing there own?

 

[Bob Wells]

How is it they are spending money like they are printing it? Are they spending more than was budgeted? As someone who voted against the guy, I have thought he was doing pretty good. What is exactly your beef?

 

[NorthCounty]

I wonder if someone is planning on taking a look at the Sheriff's Office or are we going to let them contiue to spend money as if they are printing there own?

Sounds like sour grapes.

 

[wrobert]

I wonder if someone is planning on taking a look at the Sheriff's Office or are we going to let them contiue to spend money as if they are printing there own?

I am under the impression he is spending no more than the previous administration only we are getting a much higher level of service, accountability, and transparency in the process.