The 08/09/16 BOCC meeting started with tension. As soon as the invocation and pledge of allegiance were over, Commissioners Diane Rowden and Nick Nicholson were quick to request that Chairman Jim Adkins remove an item from the agenda. The item, the third amendment to the County Administrator’s employment agreement, would extend Leonard Sossamon’s contract to 2022.
The current “brouhaha”, Rowden said, another social media event, is over the contract terms. Rowden read from Florida Statute 215.425 which states that severance packages for government employees cannot exceed 20 weeks of pay. According to County Attorney Garth Coller, since it is state law, the county must include that language in its contract with Sossamon.
Nicholson commended Sossamon for the work he has done since Sossamon began his employment in July 2012 and took over the duties of Mike McHugh as Economic Development Director. Sossamon’s abilities in reorganizing and streamlining services have served residents well, Nicholson stated.
The last BOCC meeting drew attention to the effect of social media and how misinformation and opinions become mixed. Adkins returned to that theme, referring to a “sitting commissioner,” Jeff Holcomb. Holcomb is currently on leave from the BOCC as he is deployed.
Adkins stated that he was disturbed that Holcomb had time to question Sossamon’s contract but did not contact Coller for clarification. “When I’m called a ‘lame duck’ by the person that’s failing to do research,” Adkins said, “I call him a ‘lame brain’.”
Leonard Sossamon’s original 2012 contract provided a $125,000 salary for the county administrator position, a flat $15,000 for relocation costs and employee benefits.
When Sossamon took on the temporary Economic Director position, his contract was amended (in January of 2014 ) to provide a flat base rate of 3,333.00 per month as compensation for Economic Director.
His position of Economic Director became permanent in June of 2014. His contract was amended a second time to provide a base salary rate of $168,750.10 (removing the flat rate of 3,333.00 per month).
Sossamon’s contract expires on May 21, 2017. Many see the 5 year contract extension attempt as a way for the current commission to secure Sossamon’s position with a newly elected commission. Holcomb is adamantly against this and would like to see the contract negotiated with the newly elected commission which would provide taxpayers a greater voice.
Should a newly elected commission decide to terminate Sossamon’s contract as it is currently written and following a five year renewal, the county would have to provide “a lump sum cash payment equal to four (4) month’s aggregate base salary, together with a continuation of all other benefits for Employee and his dependents for an equivalent period following termination. Said continuation of benefits shall not be payable for any period during which Employee becomes employed by a third party following termination by the County.” ( The county is not obligated to pay severance if Sossamon “is terminated due to conviction of any felony or conviction of any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude which shall reflect adversely upon the County.”)