Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/289950
Both Uebelacker and Meese were among the approximately 140 "at-will" employees of the county, Carson added. Anyone in that group of managers, directors and other executives can have his or her employment terminated at the will of the administrator, she said, accord- ing to Florida law. Meese is eligible for six weeks of salary and benefits, Carson explained, while Uebelacker is entitled to four weeks of pay and benefits. Regarding the recent and coming realignment of departments and positions, Hines told the News Leader, "[Harmer has] had the ability to actively review this. … Like any CEO, he's putting his personal touch on things." "It's expected that the county administrator is going to reorganize" and shift personnel into positions he feels will work best, Vice Chairwoman Christine Robinson concurred in an interview with the News Leader on March 31. "I think that he had an advantage of working in the previous system. … The time frame [for the changes] was much quicker because of his job experience here." H a r m e r w a s h i r e d b y f o r m e r C o u n t y Administrator Randall Reid in July 2012. When the commissioners fired Reid on Oct. 23, 2013, they quickly asked Harmer to step into the position on an interim basis. On Jan. 28, they asked him to stay on and remove the "interim" from his title. Harmer began his March 28 email by refer- encing his short tenure in the position: "I have experienced an incredible first 45 days on the job as your new County Administrator. Thank Then-Interim County Administrator Tom Harmer (left) listened as Ed Gable, the county's facilities services director, made a presentation during an Oct. 29, 2013 workshop. Photo by Norman Schimmel Sarasota News Leader April 4, 2014 Page 20