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Hernando's assistant county administrator over public works resigns

 
Malmberg
Malmberg
Published Aug. 16, 2017

BROOKSVILLE — Hernando County has taken another hit in its public works operation with the resignation this week of Brian Malmberg, the assistant county administrator over several departments.

Malmberg, who will work through the end of next week, announced his departure to County Administrator Len Sossamon just a week after the resignations of county engineer Mark Guttman and project manager Al Toler, whose departures were tied to the county's conflicts with road-building contractor B.R.W. Contracting Inc., which ran into trouble on several projects, suing the county on one of them.

In his letter to Sossamon, Malmberg did not cite a reason for departing, writing, "It has been a pleasure working with you and the citizens over the last seven years here in Hernando County. I've enjoyed managing a very successful team dedicated to meeting the needs of the citizenry of Hernando County. I wish you and the county staff all the best.''

Malmberg also offered to help during the transition. He came to the county in 2011, and his annual salary was $112,673.

In a separate letter to the county staff, he wrote that he had enjoyed working with his team and found them to be "some of the most dedicated public servants I've ever come across. I just wanted to thank all of you for the hard work and many accomplishments we have been able to achieve together.''

He told co-workers he was returning to the private sector, and he told Sossamon he was going to work for Coastal Engineering Associates in Brooksville, which does engineering work outsourced from the county.

Because of questions raised internally, the county's purchasing manager, James Wunderle, issued a memo this week noting that a former county employee is not barred from working for a private entity.

"If the private employer were to allow use of this individual on a temporary basis while we seek replacement of this individual ... This would be a conflict of interest. Not allowable,'' Wunderle wrote.

Sossamon said that shortly after Malmberg announced his resignation, he contacted the county's utilities director, Gordon Onderdonk, to ask him to fill in with the Department of Public Works while the county looks for a replacement for Malmberg, Onderdonk agreed.

In a note to department employes, Onderdonk said he would be spending significant time with them in the coming days to get up to speed.

Malmberg and the other two assistant county administrators, Scott Hechler and Ron Pianta, were about to lose that title as Sossamon searches for a deputy administrator to be his second-in-command. He already has interviewed three internal candidates, but said this week that he also wants to talk to several external applicants. He said he expected to make a selection and an offer in the next several weeks.

Earlier this month, Sossamon issued termination letters to both Guttman and Toler, informing each that "information was disclosed during a recent lawsuit that has resulted in the county having a lack of confidence in you performing your duties."

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The letter cited the county's Code of Conduct provision, which states: "Employees will not act in any manner that may discredit Hernando County government, its public officials, fellow employees or themselves." Citing a separate code that details when employee discipline is called for, the provision states, "(when) the employee is consistently incompetent or inefficient in the performance of his duty. This may include wanton or willful neglect."

While the notice indicated immediate termination, both Guttman and Toler opted to resign. Lead inspector Gary Miller was terminated at the same time for unrelated performance issues.

Since his departure, Guttman has worked on an engineering project for Nicholson Engineering Associates, which is owned and operated by county Commissioner Nick Nicholson.