Last year we reported on massive research studies by Lee Johnson about questionable hiring, firing, promotion and demotion practices used at Lake County government that appeared biased and contrary to most current standard personnel practices in organizations that understand current personnel regulations. Basically, some people were fired in a discriminatory manner, and others were frends or relatives hired, possibly without public application notices, etc. (I noticed in yesderday's Board meeting agenda that the County is posting advertisement notices for a new manager position, but only in two Saturday papers, which indicates to me they don't want anyone to see the notices, and probably have a favored person already picked for the open position).
And, we commented about the Lake County's SHIP grant audit conducted by the County Clerk's auditor, and how it indicated that it was mismanaged and borderline ethical decisions were made.
Well, Lee Johnson has been working in the background to continue efforts to support lawsuits and investigations on the evidence he uncovered, and results are slowly coming in. If you read this today, Wed., Sept. 2 before 11am, you might also want to tune in to Ralph Smith's Lake County (FL) Round Table radio show every Wed. at 11am-noon on WLBE AM-790.
- In the Ship Audit, friends and relatives of County SHIP project manager Nicey Parks received grants without disclosure, and not long ago she "retired" and the department managing housing grants (for repairs to homes of low income people) is under new management.
- Now, in the first of possibly several lawsuits over improper firings from when about 40 staff were laid off or fired last year by County Manager Cindy Hall (and personnell manager Sharon Wall), the County has agreed to a settlement that will cost them, per the notices below, over $70,000.
See the memos below from Lee Jonson and also new County Commissioner Jimmy Conner. Lee blames County Manager Cindy Hall for mismanagement - I don't know if that is the case - she could have been following accepted internal practices pushed by some County Commissioners, but certainly the SHIP Audit and Lee Johnson's research indicates poor management practices at the County compared to any $50-million business when the County Budget exceeds $175-million:
Email received Sept 2, 2009 from Lee Johnson:
Folks, I realize we have been very quite over the past several
months, but we have not been idle. I stopped communicating with the group, in
large part, because I felt I was only continuing the pain for many of you by
reminding you of how toxic the county culture had become. I now have some good news
to share, the first of many I hope.
As you will see in the below email from Commissioner Conner’s
website, one of the group members we have worked with was very successful in
her legal action against the county. The BOCC voted to settle with Betty out of
court, and while she is prohibited from sharing the outcomes (as part of the
settlement), our good commissioner was not. Not only has justice been served in
her case, but we have cracked their armor. This suit did not make Cindy Hall,
Sharon Wall or Bernard look good at all.
But wait, that’s not all……(as they say on the late night
advertisements).
Thanks to the hard work and effort by several in our group, the
Florida Housing Corp. (responsible for SHIP) has been involved in a major
investigation by their Investigator General. Fraud, corruption and
mismanagement have been the focus of our investigation, and that information
was shared with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement which passed it along
to the Investigator General at FHC. This has taken many, many months to get to
this point, but we believe the IG office is just about ready to release their
report which we expect to be very, very damaging to county leadership,
especially Cindy Hall. We wouldn’t be too surprised if criminal charges are
filed too. The Community Services Department of county government has already
been dismantled and it’s responsibilities divided up into other departments.
Fletcher Smith and Nicie Parks
We are also happy to report, the long awaited Risk Assessment Audit
of Employee Services is well under way. The Clerks office has brought in an
outside HR consultant and attorney to assist them in what we are being told
will be a very complete audit. As luck would have it, I have had dealings with
this attorney in the past and have a good working relationship with him. Cindy
Hall attempted to have any issues or allegations contained within the original
binder (presented to the BOCC on 8/17/08) excluded from the audit; the Clerks
office refused. We have heard Sharon Wall is on a 6-8 week medical leave
(again); most likely to try and stall the audit until after Cindy’s evaluation.
The Clerks office has assured me that won’t happen.
We are also hearing rumors coming out of other government offices
that FBI agents are flashing their badges around in Downtown Tavares. We are
not sure what issue they are focused on (there are SO many). Some of us did
meet with a U.S Congressman about the fraud in the FEMA hurricane fund; we were
told the information was being forwarded to Homeland Security (since they
oversee FEMA now).
Bev, fire up the grill. I think we are close to having our first
victory party. I would like to suggest the first weekend AFTER CINDY HALL LOSES
HER JOB, we will have a BBQ at our house in Tavares. Bev and her husband are
AWESOME and competitive BBQ cooks.
Thank you all for keeping the faith as we have persevered through
this.
Lee Johnson, CEO
TransformU
1612
Canal Ct.
Tavares, Fl. 32778
866-235-7886 Toll Free
352-455-4228 Cell
866-818-4180 Fax
"Transformation....Not Just Change"
Subject: FROM JIMMY CONNER'S WEBSITE HERE
Commission
Settles Lawsuit -Cost to Taxpayers Over $70,000
September 1, 2009 County Manager
The county commission unanimously approved an out of court settlement with a
former county employee who filed a lawsuit alleging age discrimination against the
head of Procurement and retaliation by the
The settlement was for $51,000 and legal fees will exceed $20,000 meaning the
total cost to taxpayers will be over $70,000. Because the county is self
insured, tax dollars, not an insurance company, will pay this settlement.
Commissioner Jimmy Conner has focused on fiscal responsibility and expressed
disappointment this expenditure became necessary.
"Taxpayers deserve better," said Conner. "At some point I
believe the Commission must establish some measure of accountability," he
concluded.
GEE, IF THE COUNTY IS SELF INSURED, THE TAXPAYERS BETTER BEND-OVER, CAUSE THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING. (Note - I think this sentence was added by Lee Johnson, not Jimmy Conner - vj)
