Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Administration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Gadsden County commissioners approve search help for county administrator, authorize cyber grant signature and litigation document signing
Summary
The board authorized staff to contact the Florida Association of County Managers to assist a county administrator search (up to $6,000, 3–6 week timeline) and granted the interim administrator limited authority to sign a cybersecurity grant agreement and documents related to Hurricane Michael litigation.
Gadsden County commissioners voted to engage the Florida Association of County Managers to assist with recruiting a permanent county administrator and approved authorizations allowing the interim administrator to execute a cybersecurity grant agreement and certain documents related to ongoing Hurricane Michael litigation.
On the recruitment, an HR representative told the board that an outside association-run search would typically cost approximately $4,000–$6,000 and take roughly three to six weeks to produce candidates and materials for interview. The board approved staff contacting the Florida Association of County Managers (FACM) and authorized up to $6,000 to cover the work. The motion directs staff to proceed; specific hiring decisions remain subject to later board action.
The board also voted to give the interim county administrator authority to execute a cybersecurity grant agreement the county received; staff said the award requires no county matching funds and is a recurring cybersecurity allocation. Commissioners approved that authorization by voice vote.
Separately, the board authorized the interim administrator to execute documents related to the county’s ongoing Hurricane Michael litigation (motions and PFS-related filings), consistent with earlier authority granted to respond to discovery. The board’s action was framed as a procedural step to allow the administrator and legal staff to file and respond efficiently.
Why it matters: filling the county administrator role affects daily operations and long-term strategy; using an external association increases the applicant pool and helps insulate the board from having to run a partisan or local-only search. The cyber grant signature clears the county to accept cybersecurity support funds; the litigation authorization keeps an active legal matter moving.
Practice and timeline: HR indicated FACM (or a similar association) typically posts broadly, collects applications, and forwards qualified candidates within three to six weeks. The board approved a motion (mover/second not specified) to authorize staff to contract with FACM for up to $6,000. Commissioners instructed staff to return with results and next steps in the weeks ahead. Interim management would remain in place while the search proceeds.
No permanent hire was made at the meeting; the board provided direction and authorization to move the recruitment and administrative steps forward.
