CLEARWATER -- The county watchdog is out of a job.

Bob Melton, 54, will leave his internal auditing post in Pinellas Clerk Ken Burke's office, a victim of budget cuts. Melton's audit of spending practices recently took aim at county officials' travel spending and judges' acceptance of auditing.

"It is with a heavy heart that I announce that Chief Deputy Director Bob Melton has graciously decided to take the Internal Audit Division’s layoff in lieu of having to lay off additional staff. Bob has decided that he will embark upon his missionary work in Costa Rica full time," Burke said in an email. Read the full story here.

Read Burke's e-mail after the jump.

To:    "Clerks Department Distribution Group" <ClerksDepartmentDistributionGroup@co.pinellas.fl.us>
cc:    "LaSala, Robert" <rlasala@co.pinellas.fl.us>
Subject:    Internal Audit Division Changes
It is with a heavy heart that I announce that Chief Deputy Director Bob Melton has graciously decided to take the Internal Audit Division’s layoff in lieu of having to lay off additional staff. Bob has decided that he will embark upon his missionary work in Costa Rica full time. Bob’s decision and future plans are admirable.  We are very proud to have such excellent leadership at the top ranks of the office. Bob has served the office and the county extremely well. Without a doubt, Bob leaves a legacy of excellent audits and efficiencies that have substantially saved taxpayer dollars.
Bob will continue to serve on a limited basis as a consultant for the office, lending his expertise to the audit process.
The Chief Deputy position will not be filled, rather a Director of Internal Audit position will be created as a direct report to me. In that position, I am naming Hector Collazo. Hector has worked side by side with Bob on the Division’s audits and is well versed on the overall requirements of the job. Hector joined the Clerk’s Office several years ago coming to us from Texas with an impressive auditing background which has served us well.
Please join me in wishing Bob every blessing and success that his future will bring and in welcoming Hector as our new Director of Internal Audit.
Sincerely,
Ken

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