tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post4818675056178184014..comments2024-01-13T03:17:01.627-05:00Comments on SWFWMD Matters: Scott swings vicious slingblade at DEP’s Tampa OfficeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-59183018026543506662013-02-16T11:12:10.821-05:002013-02-16T11:12:10.821-05:00since this all took place. about 10 people have l...since this all took place. about 10 people have left the SWD. at least one was fired. one passed away. none the vancies have been filled but they are "adverising" the jobs. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-41210438654690452542012-11-06T22:10:08.890-05:002012-11-06T22:10:08.890-05:00How the firings occurred in the Tallahassee HQ off...How the firings occurred in the Tallahassee HQ office is also a matter of discussion. The entire division of Water Resource Management was called into a meeting by the deputy Secretary, who gave a Powerpoint presentation of the "reorganization". During the presentation, firing numbers for the individual sections were given out, and the drinking water administrator - who had two more years left in DROP - was told he was removed in front of the whole division. One fired employee was involved at the time in the Emergency Operations Center for Hurricane Sandy, and was no longer able to access his computer for important emergency operations, since the mindless Nazis locked him out. The Drinking Water Administrator was replaced by a recent hiree of his from the private sector, who managed to cozy up the Deputy Secretary. The hatchet person was another hiree from the private sector only about three months earlier. It is clear the original people who worked for less pay than their private sector counterparts for years because they cared for Florida's degrading environment were replaced, including Secretary Mimi Drew when Scott assumed the throne, for his and his cronies selfish interests.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-6428997270551318422012-10-31T20:47:29.076-04:002012-10-31T20:47:29.076-04:00I am one of the 25. Our jobs could have been saved...I am one of the 25. Our jobs could have been saved if the FDEP would revise the bidding procedures for petroleum cleanup jobs and quit allowing the fox to guard the henhouse. Who in their right mind would ever believe that there can be no collusion when a consultant is allowed to obtain bids from contractors of their own choosing for a remediation project, and not tell their favorite contractor the number to beat? Or worse yet, ask their three favorite contractors to share in a rotation for winning projects and increase the bid numbers! Think about it, the consultant gets a 10% markup on the contractor fees, so the higher the bid the more money the consultant makes. Why is the bidding not a sealed bid process? Why are the foxes allowed to review the contractor bids and choose the winner? Why does the FDEP not receive the bids FIRST? I guess because the Fox's are ALL honest, right? There is no collusion or fraud when it comes to government programs, right?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-16845703779756330132012-10-26T23:43:10.253-04:002012-10-26T23:43:10.253-04:00As a current SW District employee, this was a very...As a current SW District employee, this was a very accurate article. However, there are a few things that I will add. In the beginning of what they called a "re-org," they made ALL leadership staff (SES aka managers/supervisors) re-apply for their job. They also allowed a few on the outside apply - friends and such (nepotism, maybe?). When this phase was done, some were offered a similar job but most were left out in the cold. If they weren't re-hired then, they were asked if they would accept a regular full-time job. Some flat-out refused and were let go. This phase was very similar to a draft in a fantasy-football league. <br /><br />Another thing to mention is some management that didn't get a job were later (on Thursday) offered a full-time slot, which of course left even less openings for the current full-timers, who were consequently fired. So, not only did 26 (actually 27 - one has not been notified due to being on leave) staff lose their jobs but many were demoted. There were dedicated, hard-working employees who were literally months away from retirement escorted out on Thursday. Some were there 20-30 years, making less than 40K/year and no pay raise in 8-10 years. Talk about dedication.<br /><br />We also have to remember this might not be the last of the firings. We have many (maybe 30-40?) OPS positions in the district. For those not familiar, OPS is basically part-time (up to 40 hours w/o benefits). These staff were not even taken into consideration yet and we were told that everything is on the table. I wouldn't be surprised if they axed 15+ OPS jobs. There is even talk of outsourcing many jobs to the private industry which would allow them to do more layoffs.<br /><br />On Friday (or Monday?), there were also approx. 41 more layoffs in the Tallahassee offices and probably many in the other districts will experience the same. We were the first district to go through this. I hope they don't have to go through what we had to go through. Just depressing to go into work now.<br /><br />currently, it is borderline chaos in there. Nobody knows their new role or responsibilities and we can't do our job. It's bad for business and Florida's environment. Scott has had his scope aimed at the DEP since day 1. He only cares about big business and not the state of Florida. I'm honestly surprised it didn't happen earlier.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-67926140144524165282012-10-26T19:48:49.032-04:002012-10-26T19:48:49.032-04:00I completely agree that the way this was handled i...I completely agree that the way this was handled is barbaric and unjustifiable. Thank you for writing the article. <br /><br />I’d like to see it in the news so that the rest of the offices are treated more professionally.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-9642946039728090902012-10-26T08:55:18.921-04:002012-10-26T08:55:18.921-04:00I respect your views but understand this. What Ri...I respect your views but understand this. What Rick Scott, Herschel Vinyard and Jeff Littlejohn are doing to Florida is far more out of line. Words are just words. What these people are doing is real destruction to hundreds of individuals’ sense of self worth, careers, families and the state of Florida. They need to be held accountable just as you are holding me accountable. What have you done to let your views toward the “Scott administration” be known? You can tell me more convincingly that I’m out of line when you tell Rick Scott and his henchmen they’re out of line. Frankly, the Tallahassee I have come to know is all about making money by catering to the extant politic powers at hand. There is no right or wrong. The lawyer’s responsibility as an advocate has become an excuse for the abdication of truth and what’s right and moral. It’s all about who’s got the mojo and how to play influence. Are you one of those? Or are you willing to be heard on the side of “no sympathy”? -SandspurSandspurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526071481551000261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-35583074270569853042012-10-26T08:52:36.380-04:002012-10-26T08:52:36.380-04:00I have no sympathy for what the Scott administrati...I have no sympathy for what the Scott administration is doing, but your words about tarring, feathering, etc. are way out of line.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-5943588590948426932012-10-26T08:51:22.361-04:002012-10-26T08:51:22.361-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Sandspurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526071481551000261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-25297947500335870382012-10-26T00:00:58.906-04:002012-10-26T00:00:58.906-04:00I keep hearing all these things about Rick Scott a...I keep hearing all these things about Rick Scott and have to wonder how this guy got into office in the first place. Im interested to know what other budget cuts he is performing in the environmental field. Very unsettling. <br />Taylor BeardsleyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-9934947916668177012012-10-25T12:36:38.390-04:002012-10-25T12:36:38.390-04:00So far, it looks like three people have disagreed ...So far, it looks like three people have disagreed with what you've said here. My bet would be that they are Rick Scott, Herschel Vinyard and Jeff littlejohn. Any takers?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-11597891942651651662012-10-25T12:04:06.759-04:002012-10-25T12:04:06.759-04:00Just thought you'd like to see validation of y...Just thought you'd like to see validation of your recap... I shared your words with a my DEP friends who were escorted out of the building. As you can imagine they are still very upset, demoralized, worried, feeling inadequate, shocked and unappreciated. One man told me their health insurance will be covered through the end of Nov, after which he can pay at almost $600 per month. He also said it was quite clear the 'carrot' of 1 month insurance would require their 'cooperation'. The words were not directly said, but the message was loud & clear. Perhaps Dec 1st will lend a voice to this good people.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-86333058377645188982012-10-25T11:11:09.853-04:002012-10-25T11:11:09.853-04:00As usual Sonny, very well done---as you and I have...As usual Sonny, very well done---as you and I have discussed, I fear this agenda is going nationwide if Romney wins----he is a Scott copy if I ever saw one.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-62156222835224603762012-10-25T11:09:26.785-04:002012-10-25T11:09:26.785-04:00we should all cast our votes in the next Goveror&#...we should all cast our votes in the next Goveror's race for anyone who can better handle the employees in this State. They all deserve better treatment than this. This and the way they have handled the WM Districts is ridiculouAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-19018236776268949082012-10-25T11:08:41.655-04:002012-10-25T11:08:41.655-04:00Sonny, I took the liberty of forwarding this email...Sonny, I took the liberty of forwarding this email to others in the consulting world who would be interested. <br /><br />Two thoughts come to mind:<br />1. EPA should recind the regulatory delegation made to DEP years ago. DEP is not capable any longer of implementing federally mandated resource protection programs.<br />2. This type of action on Scott’s part can send voters into the Democratic camp in the upcoming election. The Republican candidates for state office might be interested in knowing how a “fellow Republican” is just reinforcing the image of Republicans as anti-worker.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-60965910849866404082012-10-23T15:23:40.481-04:002012-10-23T15:23:40.481-04:00How desperate are these people that took these lea...How desperate are these people that took these leadership jobs recently, knowing full well what was expected of them and the mindless rational behind those expectations. Mary Yeargan and Brian Armstrong, both got these jobs because a certain lawyer, who's former employee is now the General council to SWFWMD is connected to the Governor. Both Yeargan and Armstrong, know them both (thought I did) had good profesional reputations coming into the job, although neither had much management experience, specifically Armstrong. So these two neophyte senior managers get promoted beypond their experience and capabilities and because they have no experience and are egar to show loyalty to the same idiots that they had no respect for in their previous job (yes you Brian) go and carry out this incredibly unprofessional hatchet job. Hope you like what you're doing because you'll never get a private sector job with that resume. And more likely than not, the same group will toss you out when you don't carry out the next assignment. There is no great way to do this, but their is many better ways where you don't embarass and humiliate people. This is the "modern management style" this governor wanted. Does anyone truly expect those that remain are in any way motivated by a leadership group that at any whim may fire them. Mark these words, the same tea party DH's take take glee in seeing public sector employees run out of government, will be the first to complain about those that remain because they can't keep up with the requirements or expectations for service. I bet you could count on one hand the number of staff left of the 125 that don't wish they had another job opportunity, and two are the director and assistant director. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-64451290323942015192012-10-21T12:08:59.576-04:002012-10-21T12:08:59.576-04:00Correction: Mike Halpin was not at the meeting on...Correction: Mike Halpin was not at the meeting on October 16 as indicated above. He did attend a meeting the month prior. -SandspurSandspurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526071481551000261noreply@blogger.com