Colonneso Warns County Commission Ahead of Administrator Vote

BRADENTON – Angel Colonneso, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller for Manatee County, sent Manatee County Commissioners a scathing letter on Friday afternoon detailing serious concerns with Scott Hopes' performance as county administrator, just ahead of a board discussion as to whether or not his contract should be extended.

 

"I very recently learned of the upcoming item on the BCC Agenda for 5/24/22 regarding the contract of your county administrator," wrote Colonneso, in a letter that was also copied to state representative Will Robinson. "My letter accompanying this email describes issues that I have been monitoring and I felt that you should have this information before you take up this item on Tuesday."

 

Colonneso outlines serious concerns regarding poor communication, a lack of transparency, chaos caused by rapid turnover and the reorganization of staff and departments, and "fiscal responsibility" issues, which seemed to indicate the potential for malfeasance. In her dual role as comptroller, the clerk is essentially the chief accountant for county government.

 

Colonneso also referenced serious fiscal concerns, including that the county seemed to be trying to "mirror" what would have been its payment into the Florida Retirement System for Deputy County Administrator Rob Reishuttle into a deferred compensation account because he had already retired from a state position with FRS benefits. Colonneso said that such a policy decision could only be made by the board, which had never voted on the matter.

 

The clerk also echoed rumors that the county had purchased a luxury SUV for its vehicle "pool" that is exclusively used by Hopes, despite the administrator receiving a $450 monthly reimbursement for using his own vehicle to drive to work, in addition to his base salary of around $209,000 and many additional fringe benefits.

 

Click here to read the letter in full.