Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Glades County Manager Wendell Taylor Fired

Glades Commission Votes County Manager Out

MOORE HAVEN, FL. -- Commissioners in attendance at Monday's Glades County Commission meeting included Dennis Griffin, Donna Storter, Paul Beck, Russell Echols and Tim Stanley. Commissioner Storter moved to terminate the employment of county manager Wendell Taylor without cause effective immediately. Motion carried 3-2 with Echols and Griffin dissenting.

Complaints had been filed against Taylor, a retired USAF Colonel, by two Glades County employees accusing the county manager of bullying and threatening employees and of using profane language in front of them.

Earl Cline, a maintenance tech filed a grievance in April 2012 saying "G.D. is used almost daily, taking the name of God in vain" and was "obscenely screaming 'F--k Donna'" referring to Commissioner Storter.

911 Coordinator Terri Anascavage complained that Taylor came to her office three times saying "spies were watching"" her. She went to Commissioner Jones, and claimed Taylor then started retaliation and harassment against her.

Commissioner Stanley led discussion at the commission meeting about temporary positioning other employees to cover the vacant county manager position. Stanley felt county employees should receive official written notice of the vacancy with direction for “chain of command”.

County Attorney Pringle suggested until the Board can move via advertised agenda in public meeting to proceed to fill the county manager position, that county business can be handled as it has been in the past during county manager’s absence when on leave by Deputy County Manager Larry Hilton.

In other business, Judge Jack Lundy performed the honors of swearing in newly elected commissioners Dennis Griffin (District 1), Tim Stanley (District 5) and re-elected commissioner Paul Beck (District 3.) A reception with refreshments had been served before the meeting began.

Russell Echols was elected chairman, and Donna Storter was elected vice-chairman.

Commissioner Beck brought to the Board’s attention the many code violations county-wide that were not being attended to, explaining that the current Code Enforcement Officer was only doing it part-time, as he is full-time employed as an EMT with Glades County.

Beck also commented on the problems he encountered with the county’s website when researching code violation reports and that it needed to be more user friendly.

The Board moved to advertise for full-time Code Enforcement Officer as the position was fully funded in the current year’s budget.

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