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TAMPA - Hillsborough County commissioners have twice voted not to spend any more money on a consultant investigating allegations of wrongdoing in County Attorney Emmy Acton's office.
Now Acton is planning to ask commissioners that she be allowed to hire a different consultant to address "transitional issues" when she returns from medical leave. But she never explains what the transitional issues are.
In a memo that had commissioners and some of her employees questioning her intentions, Acton suggests using her unused salary while on medical disability to pay for the consultant. While on disability, Acton is receiving a portion of her pay through insurance.
"I had hoped to be back in the office by now so that I could personally initiate and be involved in implementing a plan to address these issues," Acton wrote in a memo Monday to her current deputy county attorney, Don Odom. "I believe that this will be a difficult process and it is critical that it be done effectively."
The memo asks Odom to work with his soon-to-be successor in the office, Jennie Tarr, to craft a proposal for commissioners' consideration on Wednesday.
Acton did not return a call to her home, and her attorney, Bill Jung, did not return a call to his office. Tarr also did not return phone calls seeking comment.
Commissioner Jan Platt said Monday that Odom told her he's not sure what Acton is requesting.
The county attorney has been on medical leave since May due to illness relating to her diabetes. Her absence was preceded by an array of anonymous complaints, and subsequently by named complaints, accusing her of running a hostile workplace, not reporting all of her sick leave and misusing an office fund.
Last month, commissioners twice voted against giving KPMG, a private consultant hired to investigate the complaints, additional money that it had requested. The company had been hired to do the work for up to $60,000, but said it need an additional $45,000 to finish because of an unforeseen broadening of allegations.
Commissioner Ronda Storms, who supported giving KPMG more money to bring the investigation to a close, called Acton's memo Monday "absurd." She speculated that Acton is either preparing a "bloodletting" or her own departure. Since Acton has said she plans to return, Storms doubts Acton is quitting.
"We're going to discontinue working with a consultant over here so we can hire the "Let's vindicate Emmy' consultant?" Storms said. "This is Alice in Wonderland."
It may be that neither of Storms' scenarios is true.
Beth Novak, Acton's office manager who has also filed a request for whistle-blower protection, said her boss is hoping to hire consultant Larry Gross. Gross has worked with Hillsborough commissioners, helping them develop common goals during retreats, even when they've been at sharp divides on issues.