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Commissioners approve outside HR consultant agreement; chair calls for independent HR audit after staff access concerns
Summary
Board unanimously authorized a short-term consulting agreement with an external group to assist the county’s HR executive search and assessment; commissioners raised concerns about the vendor’s access to county systems and the chair requested a resolution to order an independent audit of past HR decisions.
Walton County commissioners voted to approve an amendment to a consulting agreement with an outside human resources firm to help lead the county’s executive search for a human resources director and to perform an assessment of HR functions. The board approved the update and authorized the chair to sign the amended agreement.
County staff said the contractor will assist with recruitment, in-person interviews, candidate screening and will provide a detailed assessment report on or before March 7, followed by remote HR advice and support until March 15, when the amended agreement ends. Staff said the county’s hiring advertisement had closed and interviews were underway; staff hoped to be in a position to make an offer by the end of the week if a candidate emerges.
During discussion multiple commissioners and members of the public asked whether the consultant would have access to the county’s Munis system and administrative logins. County staff confirmed the vendor had a login and promised to determine how that access was provisioned and to secure or remove it if necessary. Commissioners pressed for an audit of any vendor access and for IT to report what data the vendor could reach.
Separately, one commissioner, speaking as board chair, described alleged past misconduct in the HR department and asked the county attorney and staff to prepare a resolution directing an independent audit and recommending reforms: mandatory public posting of county jobs, independent oversight of key hires, and stronger ethics and conflict-of-interest rules for hiring managers. The board did not vote on the audit resolution on Feb. 11 but directed staff to work with the county attorney on language and return the matter for board approval.
Formal action: The board approved the contract amendment authorizing the chair to sign the updated HR consulting and assessment agreement. Commissioners then approved the related agenda item by voice vote.
What to watch: Staff will return a completed draft of the contractor's assessment on or before March 7 and will report back on vendor system access; the board indicated it expects a proposed resolution authorizing an independent audit and policy changes to be drafted by the county attorney and brought to the board for action.
