Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/112475
Sarasota News Leader March 1, 2013 Page 10 official], and that���s important. You know how formance. I believe we need to upgrade our I am: ���Hi and let���s do lunch.��� It���s not her style. audit function. I wonder sometimes if we settle too many lawsuits. I did say [recently] maybe we need to have an outside auditor as well as an internal auditor. ��� ��� ��� And this is no secret: Why does someone I consider extremely well qualified to be our public information officer have to get permission from [Deputy Auditor and Clerk] Karen McGowen, when she should have the back of the city manager and us? Nobody knows who she is in this town. If all hell breaks loose, which it sometimes does, she should be right there with Barwin. ���I���m on it. What do you want?��� She has to call Karen and raise her hand. [The city���s public information officer is Jan Thornburg, who reports to City Auditor and Clerk Pam Nadalini.] Are you satisfied with the performance of the three city charter officials: city attorney, clerk and auditor, city manager? Holland: As of today I would say generally yes. Any thoughts about suggestions for improvements? Holland: Mr. Barwin is so new, I think trying to judge at this point is unfair. I have been satisfied with a number of things he���s done. In my neighborhood [Gillespie Park], we had some good interaction with both Mr. Barwin and the I told Pam that; this is no secret. I said, ���Pam, new [Police] Chief [Bernadette] DiPino. He���s what���s going on here? First of all IT [the Infor- been responsive to our needs. mation Technology Department] needs to get At this point, I don���t have any specific suggesback over to us.��� tions for the city attorney or the city auditor ���I know Suzanne. We���re getting the investiga- and clerk. That���s from the outside looking in. tion done,��� she said. ���I agree with you.��� She���s At the point where you would be a commisthe most careful, protected personality I���ve sioner and more involved with those charter ever seen. There���s that little island over there. officials, that would certainly give me a better So the merits of Terry [Turner���s] amendment feel for and ability to assess their abilities and were fine, but he went for an amendment. Yes, responsibilities. the merits of the case were good. I will not ��� ��� ��� deny that. Your preference: city manager or elect��� ��� ��� ed mayor with management responsibilAre you satisfied with the performance ities? of the three city charter officials: city atAtwell: That���s a tough one. I want to look at torney, clerk and auditor, city manager? [the] elected mayor. I���ve said that. We have Chapman: I think we need to make sure they fractional leadership sometimes. We have get along better. With Tom Barwin, he hasn���t leaders that often emerge when there���s a hot had a chance yet to be evaluated on his per- and heavy issue, a Walmart or School Avenue