If you must attend your own funeral, take leave once the coffin is nailed shut. It can get awkward after that.
Following the Escambia County Commission’s termination vote, Randy Oliver stood from his chair and left the chambers. His days as county administrator were over.
“I’d like to thank the board and thank the citizens of Escambia County for the opportunity to serve them,” Oliver said before exiting.
The commission publicly evaluated the administrator during its regular meeting this evening. Afterwards, they voted to fire him.
Prior to that, Oliver had made a presentation to the board regarding departmental accomplishments. Towards to end of the presentation he briefly addressed the commission’s coming decision.
“With me you’re going to continue to get honesty and integrity,” Oliver told them
Momentum has appeared to build against the administrator over recent weeks, with three commissioners seemingly ready for a change. Following the administrator’s evaluation, Commissioner Grover Robinson made an ill-fated attempt to redirect the conversation.
“I’m very proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish,” he said, thanking Oliver.
Commissioner Marie Young agreed: “I would like to say, job well done.”
Robinson told his fellow commissioners that county staff and department heads had come to him to lobby for the administrator. He suggested that the board allow Oliver to stay on for the final year of his three-year contract, a move which Young seconded.
The rest of the commissioners felt differently, and delivered a 3-2 defeat of that motion.
“Well, I guess that pretty much speaks for itself,” said Chairman Wilson Robertson.
Young then said that she’d like to see Oliver stay on until mid-November, due to in-progress work he would be finishing by then. The board nearly voted on the commissioner’s suggestion.
“I’m still confused,” Robinson stopped the process, explaining that the board had voted not to allow Oliver to stay on another year, but that a positive termination vote had not been taken.
The county attorney explained that the board should formally vote to terminate the administrator. She said post-termination plans – who would serve as administrator upon Oliver’s departure – should also be specified.
“Clearly, in an ideal world I’d hoped you’d get something that was crystal clear,” said attorney Alison Rogers. “So we’re not confused tomorrow morning.”
The commissioners decided that Oliver would be terminated immediately, but could take terminal leave up to Nov. 2 in order to fulfill Florida Retirement System requirements.
“Effective tomorrow,” clarified Rogers, “he would not be functioning as county administrator.”
Chairman Robertson suggested that Assistant Administrator Larry Newsom serve as acting administrator for a few weeks, until commissioners found an interim. After that, he said, the board should conduct a nationwide search for a permanent candidate.
By the time the commissioners had it wrapped up, Oliver had headed for the backdoor. It was over, and besides, funerals are for the living.