TAMPA - Hillsborough County Administrator Dan Kleman has lost another top manager, this one the head of his beleaguered Human Resources department.
Sharon Wall, a frequent target of criticism from the county commission, submitted her resignation by e-mail to the administration late Monday and it was disseminated to commissioners early Tuesday.
Only last week, a dispute over how that office is run was among the reasons Assistant County Administrator Kathy Harris cited in announcing her resignation Friday. Wall's resignation prompted intense speculation around County Center that Harris would rescind her resignation.
Harris said Tuesday that won't be the case. Though she cited the dispute in her resignation e-mail, Harris said it was a small part of why she is leaving
"That wasn't what my situation was about," Harris said. "I know we've had our differences, but Sharon certainly leaves a legacy here."
She credited Wall for improvements in customer service training.
Kleman described Wall as a "valuable employee" who has made significant contributions to county government. Both he and Wall said the resignation wasn't requested.
"It's just time to look for other opportunities," said Wall, before breaking into tears.
Harris said human resources departments are the frequent recipients of blame when something isn't going right in local government. And Wall's department received its share of criticism.
Earlier this year, investigators for the department were blamed for failing to catch the seriousness of a racial discrimination claim that came out of the Solid Waste Department. Commissioners ended up having to settle the case for $130,000.
Wall was named in another federal discrimination lawsuit in which the county was found partly at fault and ordered to pay about $6,000.
Two reviews of the office by outside consultants questioned the treatment of Human Resources employees and the training of those who investigate workplace complaints in other departments.
Commissioners have heaped criticism on the department, and Wall's appearances before them sometimes turned into uncomfortable grillings.
In her resignation letter, Wall defends her record, citing such improvements as developing a better way of evaluating managers, better recruiting, switching to performance-based appraisal of workers, automating the department, starting a wellness program and increasing training for all employees.
"I am so proud to have worked with the talented professionals in the Human Resources Department - indeed, in many ways they are my family," Wall wrote. "It is with regret that I am resigning my position as Director."
Wall has worked for the county for about six years. Her resignation is effective Oct. 31.
