Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/203490
Sarasota News Leader November 1, 2013 OPINION For upper management, the bestowal of generous settlements, sometimes called "golden parachutes," and a more collegial approach to their termination created the new standard for ending an executive's employment. Figurative beheadings no longer were accepted, especially at the top level of management. Page 81 unfold in open session. However, each commissioner is capable of ensuring that, when confronting such a sensitive matter, significant preparation of thought and speech have been undertaken so the process of terminating someone can be handled professionally and in a dignified manner. Three decades have Instead, it seemed that passed since this the commissioners F o r f o u r o f o u r c o u n t y were wholly unpremore enlightened way of handling executive commissioners — Joe Barbetta, Carolyn pared last week to terminations became Mason, Christine Robinson and Charles address their concerns the norm. Yet, for four Hines — their maladroit firing of County over Reid's continued of our county com- Administrator Randall Reid made one employment, appearmissioners — Joe wonder if it was not still 1587. ing at times abashed Barbetta, Carolyn and uncertain in offerMason, Christine ing their evaluations Robinson and Charles Hines — their mal- of his job performance, and later, in their conadroit firing of County Administrator Randall demnatory rationale for his firing. Reid made one wonder if it was not still 1587. The result was that almost no one watching We do not intend here to second-guess their the proceedings could believe that the firing reasons for dismissing Reid. The impasse of Reid was completely justifiable, given the that had developed as a result of the friction hesitant and inadequate statements offered between the administrator and Commissioners against him. It had more of an appearance Mason, Barbetta and Robinson made his that scores were being settled and that one sooner-rather-than-later departure almost a who had earned these commissioners' displeasure was being given his comeuppance. fait accompli. Commissioners Mason, Barbetta and Robinson should have come to the meeting with clearly thought-out statements to support their individual intentions to dismiss Reid. Each should have acknowledged his or her own role in creating the tenuous relaWe understand that Government in the tionship with the administrator, since they Sunshine laws prohibit commissioners pri- have amply demonstrated their complicity vately rehearsing how such a scene should in many public criticisms over the last year. Rather, we object to their humiliating approach to his termination … certainly humiliating for Reid, but also for all citizens of Sarasota County who were mortified by the bumbling manner in which he was dismissed.