Taxpayers to Pay Handsomely for County Admin Swap

BRADENTON – County Administrator Cheri Coryea's expected removal on Tuesday looks like it will cost Manatee County taxpayers more than $190,000, which is just about the same amount the county commission that is getting rid of her will then vote to pay the interim county administrator, essentially doubling the bill.

The agreement (click here to view) includes 20 weeks of salary, 400 hours of paid leave that's accrued during Coryea's service, 500 hours of unused sick leave, and 197 hours of pay for compensatory time, which was essentially overtime that was recognized as having been required above and beyond the expected hours of a salaried employee during the pandemic.

The time certain item is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m., during the board's scheduled meeting. The meeting also includes the proposed compensation for the anticipated hiring of an interim County Administrator, Charles Hines, whose salary would be the same as Coryea's at $192,000 plus other pay and benefits.

Coryea's separation includes a mutually-agreed-upon statement that lauds her 31-years of service to the county and many successes as Director of Neighborhood Services, Deputy County Administrator, and the county's very first female administrator.

Despite those accolades, the new board, seated in November, immediately moved to fire Coryea during a special meeting that was later demonstrated to have been orchestrated specifically for the purpose of ambushing Coryea and those members of the boardwho were not aware that the moves had been previously set in motion.

Led by newly-elected district 3 commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge, and supported by commissioners Vanessa Baugh, George Kruse, and James Satcher, the move initially failed when Kruse flipped his voteat a later meeting.However, just weeks later and immediately after having publicly admitted to having engaged in an extramarital affair during his campaign, Kruse flipped again, this time providing the swing vote to oust Coryea.

A majority of commissioners have voiced support for a national search that would allow the board to find an experienced administrator with no ties to specific commissioners, department heads, or special interests, such as the politically-connected developers who've inserted themselves into the issue.

However, some commissioners have also expressed an interest in specific local candidates. Meanwhile, a shadowy organization calling itself Manatee Concerned Citizens has been conducting an issue campaignin what seems like a blatant interest to influence the process and effect a preordained outcome.