ADMINISTRATOR SEARCH IN HOLDING PATTERN

SARASOTA COUNTY RESIDENTS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT A SEARCH FIRM THAT WAS HIRED TO FIND THEIR NEXT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.  PUBLISHED REPORTS SAY THE MERCER GROUP IS BEING QUESTIONED FOR THEIR 2007 SEARCH FOR A SARASOTA CITY MANAGER.  THE GROUP APPARENTLY NEVER TOLD CITY COMMISSIONERS THAT THEIR CHOICE HAD BEEN ACCUSED OF A DOMESTIC DISPUTE AND A FINALIST HAD FILED FOR A MAJOR BANKRUPTCY.  INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TERRY LEWIS SAYS THEY’VE BEEN DOING MORE RESEARCH ON THE FIRM, INCLUDING CALLING CITIES THE COMPANY HAS WORKED WITH RECENTLY.  THE OWNER OF THE MERCER GROUP TOLD LEWIS THAT THERE IS A MUCH STRONGER AND MUCH MORE THOROUGH INVESTIGATION AND BACKGROUND CHECK THAT GOES ON NOW.  LEWIS ALSO SAID THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO RESEARCH MERCER, BUT THE CONTRACT TO FIND A NEW LEADER HAS YET TO BE SIGNED.  THE AGREEMENT WAS TO HAVE COST THE COUNTY OVER $23,000.