2 commissioners find fault with Wesch

The county administrator is slow to provide them information, say his critics, who form the board's minority.

By ALEX LEARY, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 6, 2003

INVERNESS -- County Commissioners Vicki Phillips and Gary Bartell said Wednesday they have had trouble getting information from County Administrator Richard Wesch and expressed concern that he may be more receptive to the commission's three-member majority than to them.

The officials were measured in their criticism, acknowledging Wesch's busy schedule, but their comments underscore the division created by several key issues, including Halls River Retreat and mandatory garbage collection.

Wesch said he felt validated by commission Chairman Jim Fowler's remarks that Fowler, too, has had trouble getting in touch with Wesch lately.

"In a strange sense," Wesch said, "I think it's a compliment that others have that sentiment. It almost proves that I spread my time and abilities equally."

He and Fowler said it is only natural for the administration to follow the orders called for by the majority.

Phillips raised the issue Tuesday in a memo expressing concern that Wesch had not responded to a Feb. 14 request she made for information regarding mandatory garbage collection.

"It has been 21/2 weeks since I sent that memo and still no response," she wrote. "I believe you have had sufficient time to respond."

In the heated debate about garbage, Phillips and Bartell are solidly opposed to mandatory collection, while Fowler supports it, and Josh Wooten and Roger Batchelor are at least open to the idea. Phillips and Bartell also oppose the Halls River Retreat condominium project, which the other commissioners approved.

In her Feb. 14 letter to Wesch, Phillips said she was disappointed that public hearings may not be held until the summer when many seasonal residents are gone.

Among other things, she asked for a time line of meetings and requested that Wesch look at counties similar to Citrus when collecting information about mandatory garbage.

During an interview Wednesday, Phillips said the frustration extends beyond that issue.

Phillips said Wesch has frequently canceled one-on-one briefings held Thursday after a commission meeting (though she added she too canceled on occasion) and that he has been slow to respond to various other questions.

"I do at times feel like I'm left out out of the loop," Phillips said. She said she is considering going elsewhere for information.

Bartell already does. He prefers to call Assistant County Administrator Ken Saunders or do his own research.

"I'm not privy to what (Wesch) gives the other county commissioners," Bartell said. "But the information he provides to me has been less than timely and has not been the information I felt was necessary to make a good decision."

Both commissioners said there was at least the perception that Wesch is more receptive to the majority -- a point Wesch denies.

Wesch, who will face an evaluation later this month, became administrator in March 2001 after serving briefly as interim administrator and eight years as assistant county attorney.

He said Phillips' Feb. 14 letter was quite extensive and would require time to answer correctly. The garbage issue will not go before the commission until March 25, he noted.

Wesch was irked that the followup memo was made available to the media Tuesday but he had not seen it until Wednesday. "I would have appreciated the courtesy," he said.

Further, he said Phillips often writes memos and that while he will seek answers, his staff has an obligation to run the day-to-day operations of the county.

Fowler came to Wesch's defense, saying he has been consumed with work lately, including the proposed sale of Florida Water Services to two Panhandle towns.

"He has a lot on his plate and has a very small staff, which in my opinion needs to increase in the near future," Fowler said.

The administrator, Fowler added, works for the entire commission, not individual commissioners.

"Whatever the board decides, that is his mission. That may not sit well with those who voted in the minority, no matter what the issue is," Fowler said.

"Someone in Richard's position has to walk that fine line."

-- Alex Leary can be reached at 564-3623 or leary@sptimes.com .

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright