LEY RESIGNATION ACCEPTED BY COMMISSIONERS

SARASOTA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVE ACCEPTED THE RESIGNATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR JIM LEY IN A 4-1 VOTE THIS MORNING.  COMMISSIONER JOE BARBETTA WAS THE LONE DISSENTER.  BARBETTA SAID THE FIRST THING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IS TO RESTORE THE PUBLIC’S TRUST AND CONFIDENCE, AND FOR THAT REASON HE FEELS THAT DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR DAVE BULLOCK IS NOT THE CHOICE FOR THE INTERIM POSITION.  HOWEVER, THREE OTHER COMMISSIONERS HAVE EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE IN BULLOCK, WHICH WILL MEAN MORE DISCUSSION LATER IN THE DAY WITH A POSSIBLE VOTE.  BULLOCK SAID HE WOULD NOT PUT IN FOR LEY’S POSITION BUT WOULD WELCOME THE CHALLENGE TO SERVE ON AN INTERIM BASIS.  BARBETTA WANTED SHERIFF TOM KNIGHT TO TAKE THE POSITION, BUT COUNTY ATTORNEY STEVE DEMARSH SAID HE DIDN’T BELIEVE THAT KNIGHT COULD DO BOTH JOBS EFFECTIVELY.  COMMISSIONERS ARE LIKELY TO LAUNCH A NATIONAL SEARCH FOR LEY’S REPLACEMENT AS EARLY AS TODAY.  LEY WILL RECEIVE MORE THAN $265,000 IN SALARY AND BENEFITS IN HIS DEAL.