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Mike McHugh gets tentative approval to lead the county's business development department on an interim basis.
By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 6, 2002
BROOKSVILLE -- The former head of the Hernando County Mining Association won tentative approval Tuesday to lead the county's fledgling business development department for the next six months.
County Administrator Paul McIntosh recommended hiring Mike McHugh, retired vice president of Florida Crushed Stone, after hearing commissioners complain two weeks ago that his economic development efforts were not moving quickly enough.
When he presented McHugh's $42,517 contract, however, at least one commissioner objected to getting the document at the last minute.
"This board has not been apprised of the information, nor have we had the time to go over the contract," Commissioner Diane Rowden said.
She criticized McIntosh's explanation that the commission had pressed him to jump-start the program, which had flagged since the county fired the privately held Economic Development Commission last spring.
"Urgency and giving it to us on one day and asking us to make a decision the same day are two different things," Rowden said.
Making a motion to accept McHugh's contract, Commissioner Chris Kingsley suggested the agreement take effect next week, after the board has a chance to review the contract as amended during discussions. His colleagues and McHugh agreed to that compromise.
"I'm happy with the direction we're going," Kingsley said.
As commissioners debated his position, McHugh stood quietly, his fingers interlocked behind his back. When they asked him for concessions, such as a flexible contract term and a noncompete clause, he readily agreed.
The goal, McHugh said, is to help the business community and nothing more.
Commissioner Betty Whitehouse raised concerns that McHugh might be tied too closely to local mining interests. McHugh stressed that his affiliations with Florida Crushed Stone and the mining industry were cut.
"I am not in any way, shape or form going to be pro mining or pro anything," he said, adding that he would check whether his presence on the Chamber of Commerce board of directors might pose a conflict.
Whitehouse also wanted to ensure the contract did not preclude McHugh from pursuing the job permanently. The personnel department is advertising the job a second time, after McIntosh's first choice turned down the position, and applications are due by Feb. 22.
"At this point I am strictly looking to be the interim person and help," McHugh replied. "I'm willing to agree to the interim position only."
He said he looked forward to working with the business community to develop retention and expansion programs, as the commission has intended with its new department. If his contract is ratified, McHugh is to begin work Wednesday. His office will be in the old Brooksville city hall.
McIntosh said he began negotiating with McHugh about a month ago because of McHugh's availability, his business background and his good reputation in the community. "He seemed like the logical choice," McIntosh said.