Months after controversy erupted at the Pinellas County Personnel Board, a power struggle likely will surface late Thursday when the board is asked to hire an interim director for the county’s Human Resources Department — even though the board already selected an interim leader.
The board’s choice for an interim leader — made in March — didn’t sit well with a panel of top county leaders, who selected a different person during a Thursday morning meeting.
The panel included county administrator Barry Burton, Tax Collector Charles Thomas, Property Appraiser Mike Twitty and Clerk of the Circuit Court Ken Burke. They voted unanimously Thursday to ask the Personnel Board to hire Maureen “Moe” Freaney, a former county employee and a member of the Dunedin City Commission. The panel sent a letter to the Personnel Board immediately after voting on Freaney.
“Given this close working relationship, the HR Director Panel strongly urges the Unified Personnel Board to give great weight and consideration to its recommendation for Interim Director,” the letter said.
The letter acknowledged that a state law established the Personnel Board as an independent body. The Personnel Board — which consists of seven people appointed by commissioners, constitutional officers and others — is supposed to provide accountability over the Human Resources operation.
State lawmakers created Pinellas County’s personnel system. The Florida Legislature passed a special act in 1975 to establish the Unified Personnel System, which consists of 10 appointing authorities. Some include the clerk of the circuit court, county administrator, county attorney, property appraiser, supervisor of elections and tax collector. The 10 appointing authorities have about 3,100 employees in the personnel system.
In March, Holly Schoenherr, the embattled director of the Human Resources Department, resigned from her $166,000 position after multiple county leaders gave her either poor or fair ratings regarding leadership, interpersonal skills and organization. The Personnel Board then elevated administrator Jack Loring to interim director. The appointing authorities objected and set a course to pick its own leader, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the decision.
On Thursday, Burke, Burton and Thomas praised Freaney for the work she did for the county before leaving in May 2015. At the time, Freaney headed the Pinellas County Animal Services and said she was leaving county government to move in a new direction.
“She took a very troubled department and made it a very good department,” Burke said.
Several times on Thursday, Burke called the Human Resources Department a “troubled department," but said it isn’t filled with “bad people.” Burton said Freaney has the knowledge and experience to bring people together in the Human Resources Department.
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Thomas, who voted in favor of Freaney, told the group he didn’t think she was the best choice, because “she doesn’t have any HR experience. I’m just not comfortable that this is the right move.”
The panel commended Loring’s leadership, but said they wanted a new leader. They also acknowledged that the recommendation to hire Freaney “might not be an easy topic” when the Personnel Board meets Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
Prior to becoming the director of Animal Services, Freaney worked as an assistant county administrator from November 2010 to October 2013, earning $155,500 annually. Freaney took a “voluntary demotion” when she shifted to Animal Services, and her annual salary dropped to $125,808, according to payroll records.
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May 08, 2020 at 12:30AM
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Showdown looms at the Pinellas County Personnel Board - Tampa Bay Times
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