Commissioners Plan to Outsource County's HR Department

BRADENTON – Manatee County Commissioners will begin looking for an agency to outsource the county organization’s Human Resources Department operations. The topic has been raised previously in recent months. On Tuesday, the board voted to move forward with identifying a third-party independent contractor to run the government’s central employee services and support department.

As far back as the prior board, employee issues and concerns about the work environment within the county have been acknowledged publicly by commissioners. There have been numerous meetings over the course of more than a year on the subject of known "issues with HR" and an alleged "hostile and volatile" work environment. One former commissioner went so far as to express his understanding–via conversations with county staff–that many employees feared retaliation for turning to HR to report their concerns or to seek support.

In December of last year, the situation reached a breaking point when allegations were made against a recently appointed deputy county administrator, accused of having had inappropriate physical contact with an employee the same day of his confirmation. Though commissioners have never provided specifics on their understanding of how HR handled the allegation, some information crept out to the public, including that employees involved in filing reports with HR against the incoming deputy administrator were reportedly retaliated against. One employee was placed on administrative leave, while another was reassigned.

During a Dec. BOCC work session, Commissioner Vanessa Baugh returned from recess to the meeting room visibly upset and was overheard saying, "They are going to have to walk me out too." Baugh’s remarks occurred the same day one of the employees who lodged a complaint with HR about the incident with the newly confirmed deputy administrator had reportedly been placed on leave.

Within days, both employees were returned to their positions, the accused incoming deputy administrator rescinded his acceptance of the position within county administration, and just over a month later the then-county administrator, Scott Hopes, unexpectedly "resigned." The separation agreement the county entered into with Hopes, and source accounts,hinted that the resignation was not truly voluntary.

By February, Baugh raised the topic of "serious issues" with the HR department, telling commissioners that she had been approached by a "gentleman in Manatee County that owns an HR business." Baugh told her colleagues that the individual was interested in helping the county address its issues with the department and also shared that the individual had a willingness to "take over HR altogether."

At the time, the county attorney cautioned commissioners that hiring an outside entity to run the public organization's HR department required greater research. Without prior notice or time to review such a proposal, County Attorney Clague said he was unsure that the board could simply "sole source" such an arrangement. Clague suggested commissioners instead seek guidance from the county’s purchasing office to determine whether such a decision would require a competitive bidding process.

The topic had not been raised again since Feb. until Tuesday’s meeting. While the item was not on the agenda, Baugh said on Tuesday that something she had "just found out" the night before the meeting caused her to recognize the discussion was "too important“ to wait until the next meeting where it could be added to the agenda.

Again on Tuesday, Baugh found support among her colleagues for the proposal. Several of the commissioners agreed that they should prioritize the important department to address the existing issues for the benefit of county employees.

"At a minimum, we clearly need to fix how we are handling HR," Commissioner George Kruse said. "It’s been a problem and it’s too important to the 2,000 employees here."

Kruse also pointed to the fact that the former county administrator had moved the department from its previous location within the county administrative building up to the ninth floor. Historically, the ninth floor had been where the commissioners’ offices, the county administrator’s office, administrative aides, the county attorney’s office, and financial management had been located.

After the building’s roof sustained damage during Hurricane Ian, the floor was cleared to make needed repairs, and after, financial management was not returned to the ninth floor. Instead, the Department of Human Resources was moved to the office spaces that financial management had previously occupied.

Access to the ninth floor, as Kruse stated Tuesday, had grown restrictive under the county’s previous administrator. Key card swipes were added to gain entrance to the floor, new doors were added, bulletproof glass, and directors and other staff who once were permitted to enter the floor were restricted from doing so without prior permission.

Kruse said that it defeated the purpose of HR to have it located on a floor of the administrative building that is "locked down."

Commissioners seemed to agree that having an independent entity running the county’s HR department could provide reassurance and comfort to employees who currently recognize that any concerns they may have with leadership, once reported to HR, make their way back to county administration. HR currently reports to members of the county’s administrative staff–deputy county administrators and/or the county administrator.

Commissioner Amanda Ballard offered that she would be in support of outsourcing HR given her previously expressed concerns regarding some of the county’s current policies and training. After the 2022 election, Ballard shared her concerns regarding the county’s incorporation of diversity, equity, and inclusion principles into its hiring practices and employee training programs.

"HR should be a safe place for employees," offered Commissioner Mike Rahn. "Employees should not feel that if they do something that there is going to be retaliation or condemnation by HR because of what they are bringing forward."

Following a lengthy discussion, commissioners voted unanimously to initiate the procurement process in order to seek an independent outside entity to outsource the organization’s human resources activities. County staff will provide commissioners with options for possible contractors, or clarify whether the contract can be done under a "sole source" procurement in an upcoming meeting.

To replay the discussion from Tuesday's meeting, click the video below.

To replay the discussion from when Commissioner Baugh first raised the topic in February, click the video below.