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Raunchy video act costly to worker
A suspended Pinellas Park employee gets his job back after agreeing to a deal.
By ANNE LINDBERG
Published June 29, 2007
PINELLAS PARK -- A public works technician who appeared in raunchy videos on a shock jock's Web site will keep his job. But Tom Parmentier Jr. will lose a month's pay from his $31,484 annual salary. Parmentier also signed an agreement that requires him to behave in the future or lose his job with the city. "You will immediately, and for as long as you are employed by the city, discontinue your participation in the improper, graphic, vulgar and undesirable types of published behavior which were the basis for this disciplinary action," the contract says. Parmentier agreed to "insure that your actions do not ... bring the city into a light which interferes with its operations." The city also forbade him from discussing the agreement on television, radio show or Internet Web site. "What I have to do to get my job back is well worth it," said Parmentier, 38, who lives in Wesley Chapel. He thanked his supporters, including Bubba the Love Sponge, who tried to drum up a wave of support on his radio show. Parmentier said the unpaid suspension hurt his family financially, and he was glad his attorney was able to work out a deal with the city so he could go back to work. Tuesday will be his first day back. Pinellas Park spokesman Tim Caddell declined to discuss the details of the agreement, saying, "It's a new day. ... The assumption is he will come back and do his job and everybody will get over it." Parmentier was suspended without pay June 1 after Pinellas Park officials discovered he had appeared in at least three videos on Bubba the Love Sponge's Web site. At a pre-termination hearing, city officials listed five instances of wrongdoing that, they said, merited his firing. Among them were "pictures and video footage of Mr. Parmentier receiving electrical shocks to his private parts while dressed in a net body-stocking and gas mask (and) pictures of Mr. Parmentier having a jar of fire ants placed over his genitalia by a female cohort." Pinellas Park also alleged that he misused city flex time, a charge Parmentier denied. Anne Lindberg can be reached at lindberg@sptimescom or (727) 893-8450.
[Last modified June 28, 2007, 23:36:50]
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by Stan
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06/30/07 04:48 PM
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I don't see why the city has the right to do this. Rick wasn't wearing anything to identify him as an employee of the city. How did they find out anyway? Someone was probably looking at the internet at work. Who freakin cares?!?!
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by JIm
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06/30/07 10:32 AM
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Rick, a 30 grand job with the city id privilage? Get real, he can act anyway he wants, whats next fire you because you dont go to the same church. What a nonissue waste of taxpayer money
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by Joy
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06/29/07 11:36 PM
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AJ: you're just as sick as the person that performed the act if you don't object. truly sad people think this is cool and funny. Obviously people that can't think for themselves. would you want your kids to do this? if so, you're an idiot, also.
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by Linda
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06/29/07 03:58 PM
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Yes maybe having a job is a "privilege" ~ but we supposedly live in the USA where we have the "privilege" of doing what we want on our own time.
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by Barbara
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06/29/07 01:58 PM
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Talk about wasteful spending by a city. They could have saved alot of money by ignoring this non-issue.
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by Mike
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06/29/07 12:39 PM
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What an imbecile, but you know there are worse things going on out there. What happened to morals?I'm a young man, but know that that's just wrong.Pray to GOD for him and others like him. of course, Bubba had to be in involved in this fiasco.
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by AJ
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06/29/07 11:36 AM
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Big Brother goes to far again. He should be able to participate in any LEGAL act he wants. Being paid by "taxpayer money" can't be an excuse to trample on his rights. Besides, I'm a taxpayer too, and I don't object. You could be next!
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by Mark
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06/29/07 11:26 AM
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He should tell them to take their job and shove it. As long as it is outside of work hours, it is none of their McCarthyist business. They are plenty of $30K jobs where you don't have to put up with that nonsense.
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by Cheryl
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06/29/07 10:28 AM
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For heaven's sake, he'a public works employee, it's not like he's a figure head for the city, or a role model for children. What he does on his personal time should be none of the city's concern.
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by Glenn
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06/29/07 10:10 AM
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If this was this individual's personal time and this is how he chose to spend it, who cares what he did. At least he's not sitting in his house smoking crack. Prudish right wingers get over yourself and leave us alone.
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by hj
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06/29/07 10:01 AM
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Bubba owes this guy compensation for using him in his stunts. He certainly isn't suffering while the people he talks into doing crazy stuff do suffer.
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by Shaun
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06/29/07 09:26 AM
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If this was on his own time and he doesn't bring his city employment into the videos I don't see the problem.
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by Warren
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06/29/07 09:14 AM
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This clown should have had more respect for his family. His personal time - right. His obligation to his family has been hurt.
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by rick
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06/29/07 08:00 AM
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mike and kate, employment with the city is a privilege, not a constitutional right. just like driving.
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by tj
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06/29/07 07:57 AM
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It isn't fair butgov employees always held to a different standard....this was on par with a teacher posing nude in playboy...has to be on another ethical pedestal since taxpayer's money pays the salary....still a public employee
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by Mike
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06/29/07 07:14 AM
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Being on Bubba's show affected his job how? Again, if this was an instance of him being on someone else's radio show, we wouldn't have an issue.
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by kate
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06/29/07 07:05 AM
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If he was on his personal time, what right do they have by chastizing him?
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