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County administrator gets raise, a few knocks

By BILL VARIAN
Published December 8, 2005

TAMPA - Hillsborough County Administrator Pat Bean got a raise and an extended contract Wednesday, but not without absorbing a few shots to the jaw from commissioners in the process.

A few of the commissioners knocked Bean for failing to be responsive quickly enough when they raise concerns. And in a change of heart from views they've expressed in the past, commissioners also accused a team Bean formed to investigate county workplace complaints of acting overzealously in some instances.

Bean created the team after becoming administrator nearly two years ago in response to commissioners' complaints that the county wasn't responding to workplace complaints zealously enough. The gripe led in part to the departure of Bean's predecessor, Dan Kleman.

Ronda Storms accused Bean of risking "creating a culture of suspicion and fear at County Center," something critics of the often bellicose commissioner may find humorous. It's a criticism leveled at her occasionally.

"That is deadly to an organization," Storms told Bean Wednesday.

Her comments were echoed by Commissioner Tom Scott. Both were referring to the county's office of professional responsibility, which Bean formed last year to investigate such internal problems as workplace harassment and discrimination.

The commissioners indicated that they have been fielding complaints from employees saying investigators with the office are often rude and threatening. On the whole, Bean fared well in the evaluation, with those commissioners who submitted written critiques generally giving her high marks. They voted 6-1 to give her a 5 percent raise, taking her pay to $201,593, and to extend her contract two years from where it had ended, into 2009.

Commission Chairman Jim Norman said Hillsborough government is lucky to have Bean.

In an about face from remarks he made seven months ago, Commissioner Brian Blair similarly heaped praise on Bean. As recently as April, Blair said during a public meeting that he would vote to terminate Bean's contract if a vote were held that day.

By contrast, the sum and substance of his written evaluation of Bean Wednesday was this: "Good Job Pat! Love you, Brian."

Storms voted against the contract extension.

Bean, 60, will mark her 30-year anniversary with the county in January 2007, making her eligible for full retirement.

In opening remarks to the board Wednesday, Bean expressed her gratitude to commissioners.

"I believe this organization is getting better," Bean said. "We've got a long way to go to be great, but we're on the road.

"I love what I do."

[Last modified December 8, 2005, 00:49:13]