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Sarasota News Leader March 22, 2013 Page 52 make Sarasota County Government ���a better place for everyone.��� Commissioner Joe Barbetta was more critical, though he pointed out he also had rated Reid���s performance ���Satisfactory��� for 2012. ���I think things have gotten better,��� Barbetta said, adding, ���but the 2,000 employees that are out there are supposed to be public servants and they are reflective of us. In the community, we���re on the front line, hearing what���s going on.��� Nonetheless, Barbetta continued, ���I think the Commissioner Nora Patterson asks a quesvast majority of the employees are great emtion during the March 19 regular meeting. ployees. They understand their role. They���re Photo by Rachel Hackney honest, ethical ��� but there is still a culture in this organization ��� and it still permeates a lot Commissioner Christine Robinson concurred: of things and unfortunately it is in some key ���You made some excellent hires,��� she told departments.��� Reid. ���They���ve taken a real fresh look at some of the problems ��� and really ��� helped turn For example, Barbetta pointed out, earlier that some of that round.��� day, he and other commissioners had voiced consternation over a consulting engineer���s er- Moreover, Robinson said, ���I���m really glad to ror in estimating part of a project cost, which see your emphasis this year on accountabilihad resulted in bids coming in about three ty. ��� It���s been a problem since I stepped into times higher than expected. office��� in late 2010. He also complained that some staff members However, she continued, ���Communication is continue to delay bringing to the board up- the biggest problem for me as well. Commudates requested on issues. nication needs to flow past you to the com���I think it���s incumbent upon staff to be proac- mission.��� tive, not reactive,��� he said. STAFF ACTIONS Still, Barbetta continued, ���I know it���s a big Robinson also pointed out that while Counship to turn around,��� referring to county govty Attorney Stephen DeMarsh and his staff ernment. ���I know Mr. Reid inherited some se���pop into our offices all the time��� to answer rious problems.��� questions, ���for whatever reason, [other] staff Reid���s move to bring in assistant administra- doesn���t feel the ability to do that, and I���m not tors had been a great one, Barbetta pointed sure why. They feel the need that everything out. ���They���ve hit the ground running.��� has to be formalized now,��� which causes de-