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Sarasota News Leader January 24, 2014 In some ways, it was his firefighting experience that prepared him for high-pressure, high-scrutiny roles in governmental management. Page 23 ranging from a recommended homeless shelter in Sarasota to a dispute between city and county commissioners over the former Police Department site on Ringling Boulevard. "There is always someone who has to see the "The key is that somehow this stays a collabcounty administrator," Harmer noted, "and orative effort," he said of consultant Robert you have to make time." Marbut's recommendation for a homeless Teamwork is key, in both firefighting and gov- shelter in Sarasota. "There will be some pubernment operations. "You can't just go out lic debate on where the shelter should go and who pays for what, but it has to be a collabothere and do it yourself," Harmer said. rative effort." "There are over 2,000 of us if something is an important county project," Harmer added. The topic is slated for discussion during an "We have to think of ourselves as an entire April 1 joint session of the City and County commissions. team." Harmer hopes to strike a chord of collabora- In addition to meeting with his staffers, tion outside county government headquarters working with the county commissioners and as he seeks to address unresolved issues addressing issues, Harmer has been trying to Tom Harmer (left) listens as Ed Gable, the county's facilities services director, addresses the County Commission during an October 2013 workshop. Photo by Norman Schimmel