Changes Come to Public Library System and the County Administrative Cabinet

MANATEE COUNTY—In recent weeks, the county’s government organization has undergone new changes. The Public Library System has been reorganized under a new department, and county administration has confirmed that the Administrator’s Chief of Staff position is set to be reclassified. 

Manatee County Library System has moved from one department to another as part of the administrator Charlie Bishop’s reorganizing effort. Previously residing within the Department of Community and Veteran Services, its staff and funding have been moved to its new home in the Department of Sports and Leisure Services.

County officials tell TBT they hope the change will bring new opportunities to the library program.

The move was made official last week when county commissioners approved the November 24 BOCC meeting consent agenda. The Financial Management budget amendment (consent item number nine) confirmed the relocation of the program’s more than 100 employees and $11.2 million budget. 

In closing, the PIO shared, “With the backing of our Board of County Commissioners, the Manatee County Public Library System will continue to support our growing community with a wide range of materials, online resources, technology, and programs.”

Director Molly White heads the county’s Department of Sports and Leisure Services, where the Library System now resides.

White’s career with the county government began in 2018 when she was hired as a fitness and wellness coordinator. After serving roughly five years in her initial role, White saw her career advance in Dec. 2022 when she was named Deputy Director of the Sports and Leisure Services Department.

Roughly eleven months later, in October 2023, White’s career saw another lateral move when she was named director of the Sports and Leisure Service Department. She has now served as department director for over a year.

The county’s Library System has found itself at the center of multiple debates among county commissioners in recent years. BOCC meeting discussions regarding library materials, book labeling, and the Library System’s relationship with the American Library Association have drawn public and media attention alike.

In April 2023, Commissioner Amanda Ballard led an effort to expand the Citizen Library Advisory Board by five members, which she said would help screen and label library books and materials for inappropriate content.

While the board approved Ballard’s motion, and the additional citizens' seats advertised as available, in Jan. 2024, commissioners declined to appoint any of the applicants because none were believed to be “like-minded” enough with commissioners.

By declining to appoint citizens to the newly created positions earlier this year, the commissioners rendered the citizen advisory board without a majority—or quorum. Without a quorum, the advisory board cannot meet, so no meetings have been held by the library citizen board since January. 

Also, in January this year, former commissioner James Satcher gained support from fellow commissioners in his initiative to direct county administration and Library System leadership to sever ties with the American Library Association. To date, Manatee County’s library program is no longer a member of the ALA.

However, the Library System isn’t the only area of the local government organization experiencing change. On Friday, TBT confirmed with county PIO Logan that Andrew Butterfield, previous Chief of Staff and the fourth Deputy County Administrator to Administrator Charlie Bishop, has resigned.

Butterfield was named the administrator’s Chief of Staff last year after Bishop received the commissioners' appointment as the permanent county administrator.

Before selecting Bishop to lead the organization, commissioners ordered a national search to find suitable candidates. Butterfield applied for the position and was considered the frontrunner among commissioners, but at the last minute, the commission majority diverted course and selected longtime employee Charlie Bishop.

Though Bishop had not applied to be an administrator, he was serving as the acting county administrator while the national search for a permanent replacement was underway.

After receiving the appointment, Bishop selected Butterfield as his fourth deputy county administrator and the first Chief of Staff to the administrator in county government’s history.

In an emailed response to our inquiry, PIO Logan only confirmed Butterfield’s resignation but did not elaborate on what led to Butterfield’s decision to separate from the county.

Logan also confirmed that the administrator’s chief of staff position will be re-classified into a director position. The new position will be the Director of Government Relations.

According to the county’s published job posting, the duties of the new director position will include “the coordination, dissemination and solicitation of information regarding community, intergovernmental and legislative issues of interest to Manatee County. Work involves the research of significant legislative issues, attendance at legislative meetings; consultation with State and Federal legislators, state agencies, and municipal and special district staff interpretation of various policies and laws and participation in the development and presentation of the annual legislative program.”

In addition, the role will involve managing economic development and business relations and will serve as a county liaison to the local EDC.

The job listing also states that the Director of Government Relations will report to the county administrator. Currently, county departments and associated directors are organized under—or report to—one of the three deputy county administrators.

Applications for the position closed earlier this week, and the interview process is expected to begin next week.