I'm so optimistic about the future of Manatee County and am thrilled with the kick off of 2025 with our BOCC. Keep doing great things and reach out if I can help.
As a regular viewer of meetings since 2016, this was hands down one of the most productive meetings I have ever watched. We appreciate your objectives and clear vision for the future of our county. We feel that staff often works against and has drug their feet on citizens and commissioners wishes and expectations. It is the little things that make great improvements to our quality of life. Clearly if we can’t address the small things, how can we expect to do the big things well. Not only do we agree with your priorities we appreciate that there will be changes made so that staff will begin to follow the directives of the Board in a timely manner. We hope that you left a copy of Strong Towns at the library for citizens to borrow!
Sorry George, I am just today reading your always-thoughtful substack. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! For including "fixing" Animal Welfare. Right now there is an inexperienced new hire in charge of the shelter. There is no manager on duty over the weekends. That is because MCAW has made incredibly un-smart management team hires over recent years. The shelter mgr that just quit? well, she was hired after making the news for taking paid leave from managing the Norfolk Va public shelter to take a job at a St Pete Fl shelter and getting paid from both without telling either. The Va shelter was also cited by federal authorities for not providing proper care for the animals under her mgmt. Another recent MCAW management hire was a man forced out of his job as school principal in Charlotte county for sexual harassment. The previous Volunteer Coordinator did not meet the minimum requirements but was hired because she was the admitted gym partner of Chief Brown, She ran the volunteer program into the ground, sitting in "over 500" on-line volunteer applications in 2022. Also, there was an official 2022 shelter audit completed by the Univ of Florida Shelter Medicine program (Maddie's). But there is no record because Brown emailed the UF Evaluator asking for the recommendations "over the phone because the last one (the evaluation in 2018) was used as a weapon." In other words, she prevented a public record of an official shelter audit out of fear that the public (and the BoCC) would read it and criticize her. I have the receipts on all of these facts and there is so much more. Last outs at the shelter get earlier and earlier. Recently I was told that "last out" is 1pm, meaning a dog taken out at 1:01 pm and later won't get out again until mid-morning the next day. Last outs have changed from 4pm to 3pm to 2pm to 1pm. On the evening of July 3, 2023, at a time when the shelter was over capacity, 11 volunteers with over 55 collective years of experience were terminated without reason in violation of the volunteer agreement. 6 months later, they were quietly allowed to return, presumably after being required to sign a new more restrictive agreement. While I applaud finally expediting the shelter addition at Bishop (which should have already been completed had Charlie Bishop done his job) - a new Shelter won't fix the underlying management problems. We need new fresh leadership at MCAW.
Extremely positive and necessary changes. Finally a chair that is going to follow Robert’s Rule.
The problems that are facing our county are no different than those facing our cities and towns. Leaders follow by example. If the county can’t contain growth and maintain the infrastructure, the cities will do no better. There has been no plan. How many of our cities, townships or our county have a 5 year plan? It’s has been like a Wild West Show. Anything goes.
Thank you for proving the necessary control and leadership we all need.
You have a good group of commissions. Mostly. Some great thinkers and experienced professionals.
It’s time to hire new staff and make residents proud to live in Manatee County.
...very thorough and professional. Many of your priorities could be applicable to Holmes Beach as well. We purchased the Small Towns book in hopes of applying it to Holmes Beach.
We also just listened to the Special Meeting this week. We extend thanks to Commissioner McCann for his motion on the wetland barriers, kudos to the public speakers, and appreciation for the 7 / 1 vote.
I'm so optimistic about the future of Manatee County and am thrilled with the kick off of 2025 with our BOCC. Keep doing great things and reach out if I can help.
As a regular viewer of meetings since 2016, this was hands down one of the most productive meetings I have ever watched. We appreciate your objectives and clear vision for the future of our county. We feel that staff often works against and has drug their feet on citizens and commissioners wishes and expectations. It is the little things that make great improvements to our quality of life. Clearly if we can’t address the small things, how can we expect to do the big things well. Not only do we agree with your priorities we appreciate that there will be changes made so that staff will begin to follow the directives of the Board in a timely manner. We hope that you left a copy of Strong Towns at the library for citizens to borrow!
Sorry George, I am just today reading your always-thoughtful substack. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! For including "fixing" Animal Welfare. Right now there is an inexperienced new hire in charge of the shelter. There is no manager on duty over the weekends. That is because MCAW has made incredibly un-smart management team hires over recent years. The shelter mgr that just quit? well, she was hired after making the news for taking paid leave from managing the Norfolk Va public shelter to take a job at a St Pete Fl shelter and getting paid from both without telling either. The Va shelter was also cited by federal authorities for not providing proper care for the animals under her mgmt. Another recent MCAW management hire was a man forced out of his job as school principal in Charlotte county for sexual harassment. The previous Volunteer Coordinator did not meet the minimum requirements but was hired because she was the admitted gym partner of Chief Brown, She ran the volunteer program into the ground, sitting in "over 500" on-line volunteer applications in 2022. Also, there was an official 2022 shelter audit completed by the Univ of Florida Shelter Medicine program (Maddie's). But there is no record because Brown emailed the UF Evaluator asking for the recommendations "over the phone because the last one (the evaluation in 2018) was used as a weapon." In other words, she prevented a public record of an official shelter audit out of fear that the public (and the BoCC) would read it and criticize her. I have the receipts on all of these facts and there is so much more. Last outs at the shelter get earlier and earlier. Recently I was told that "last out" is 1pm, meaning a dog taken out at 1:01 pm and later won't get out again until mid-morning the next day. Last outs have changed from 4pm to 3pm to 2pm to 1pm. On the evening of July 3, 2023, at a time when the shelter was over capacity, 11 volunteers with over 55 collective years of experience were terminated without reason in violation of the volunteer agreement. 6 months later, they were quietly allowed to return, presumably after being required to sign a new more restrictive agreement. While I applaud finally expediting the shelter addition at Bishop (which should have already been completed had Charlie Bishop done his job) - a new Shelter won't fix the underlying management problems. We need new fresh leadership at MCAW.
We would not know nearly as much if regular citizens didn't share information. Thank you.
Extremely positive and necessary changes. Finally a chair that is going to follow Robert’s Rule.
The problems that are facing our county are no different than those facing our cities and towns. Leaders follow by example. If the county can’t contain growth and maintain the infrastructure, the cities will do no better. There has been no plan. How many of our cities, townships or our county have a 5 year plan? It’s has been like a Wild West Show. Anything goes.
Thank you for proving the necessary control and leadership we all need.
You have a good group of commissions. Mostly. Some great thinkers and experienced professionals.
It’s time to hire new staff and make residents proud to live in Manatee County.
...very thorough and professional. Many of your priorities could be applicable to Holmes Beach as well. We purchased the Small Towns book in hopes of applying it to Holmes Beach.
We also just listened to the Special Meeting this week. We extend thanks to Commissioner McCann for his motion on the wetland barriers, kudos to the public speakers, and appreciation for the 7 / 1 vote.
Well done on Tuesday, George. I am heartened with what I have seen so far. Keep it up!
Love these positive changes
Maybe since we’re talking about trails, this can include horseback riding trails?!
Thank you for a professional meeting as it should!
Can we think about a cell tower in NW Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch areas?
-correction on my previous post. I'm sure that some of you caught it. The wetland protection vote at the Special Meeting was 6 / 1.
Optimistic priorities but nothing about " Post hurricane planning". The clean up of AMI was a disaster!!!