COMMISSIONERS OFFICIALLY HIRE LEWIS AS INTERIM

SARASOTA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ON TUESDAY UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A CONTRACT FOR FORMER NORTH PORT POLICE CHIEF TERRY LEWIS TO BE THEIR INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.  LEWIS WILL MAKE OVER $550.00 A DAY FOR THE FOUR-TO-SIX MONTHS HE WILL SERVE WHILE THE COUNTY UNDERTAKES A NATIONAL SEARCH FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF JIM LEY, WHO RESIGNED AFTER 14 YEARS ON THE JOB IN THE MIDST OF A PURCHASING SCANDAL.  LEWIS HAS ALREADY STARTED BY PARTICIPATING IN A BUDGETING WORKSHOP ON TUESDAY.  TWO MORE WORKSHOPS ARE PLANNED FOR TODAY AND FRIDAY.  COMMISSIONERS WILL ANNOUNCE THEIR PLANS ON HOW THEY WILL CONDUCT A NATIONAL SEARCH FOR LEY’S REPLACEMENT AT THEIR NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING ON JUNE 28^TH.