Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/198837
Sarasota News Leader October 25, 2013 Page 16 clear policy had been in place for a number THE INTERIM ADMINISTRATOR of years. The county's interim administrator was choOn Wednesday, the county's public records sen by Reid in July 2012 to fill the post of policy came up again when Barbetta said deputy county administrator. Reid should have charged people uniformly Tom Harmer has 26 years of experience in for public records. local government, including almost eight Patterson disputed Barbetta's claims, saying that the county's policy stated only that the county may charge for certain public records that are requested. years as city manager of Titusville, where he also was executive director of the Community Development Agency. Additionally, he has served as fire chief and emergency manager in Titusville. In his defense, Patterson also noted Reid's Prior to that, Harmer was deputy fire chief in hiring of several employees to replace those Tallahassee. who left during the time of turmoil following Before coming to Sarasota County, Harmer Ley's May 2011 resignation. had most recently been senior vice presi"When Mr. Reid showed up, you could walk dent of the Pizzuti Companies in Orlando, "a around the second floor where administrative high-quality company developing industrial staff was, and it was empty," Patterson said. and commercial projects in the Southeast," "That area is full of good people now that the according to a July 2012 county news release. public has said they can trust and appreciate. "Harmer assisted and facilitated projects They are people I can talk to." and public-private partnerships to promote Patterson added that Sarasota County is a economic development, including new indusdemanding community and the commission trial facilities and infrastructure adjacent to is a demanding commission, but Reid was Kennedy Space Center," the news release doing well when it came to making sure the stated. county provided important assistance for its At the time of Harmer's hire, Reid wrote, "I residents. have both personal and professional knowledge of Mr. Harmer since I hired him in "Delivery of services is the most important Titusville as my Fire Chief in the [mid-1990s]. job, and by and large people think, as reflected He has maintained his zeal for public service, in our [annual county] survey, we are doing a even while employed in the private sector, decent job on that," Patterson pointed out. and I have watched his career develop as a "I think Mr. Reid has a very, very tough job, and professional manager. I think overall he balances it well," Patterson Reid added that he was pleased Harmer was said. "Is he perfect? No. Am I perfect? No. But willing to return to public service in Sarasota I would like to see him stay with us and try County, "where he will learn the nuances to work on some issues commissioners have of county government as a member of … our team." % identified."