10/01/1987
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this J ~ t day of
OLtobe.r , A.D. 1987, by and between the COUNTY OF MONROE,
STATE OF FLORIDA, a political subdivision of the State of Flori-
da, hereinafter called the "County", as party of the First Part,
and THOMAS W. BROWN, hereinafter called "Employee", as party of
the Second Part, both of whom understand the following:
WIT N E SSE T H:
WHEREAS, the County desires to employ the services of the
said THOMAS W. BROWN, as County Administrator of the County of
Monroe as provided by County Ordinance No. 13-1977, and
WHEREAS, it is the desire of the County Commission to
provide certain benefits, establish certain conditions of employ-
ment, and to set working conditions of said Employee, and
WHEREAS, it is the desire of the County Commission to (1)
secure and retain the services of Employee and to provide induce-
ment for him to remain in such employment; (2) to make possible
full work productivity by assuring Employee's morale and peace of
mind with respect to future security; (3) to act as a deterrent
against malfeasance or dishonesty for personal gain on the part
of the Employee; and (4) to provide a just means for terminating
Employee's services at such time as he may be unable fully to
discharg1e his duties due to age or disability or when County may
desire to otherwise terminate his employ; and
WHEREAS, the Employee desires to accept employment as
Administrator of said County;
NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual covenants
hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Employment and Term of Employment
A. Monroe County hereby agrees to employ the Employee as
County Administrator of Monroe County to perform the functions
and duties set forth in this Agreement, and as specified by
Florida Statutes 125.74 and other applicable laws and to perform
such other legally permissible and proper duties and functions as
the County Commission in open regular meeting shall from time to
time assign to him.
B. The Employee does hereby accept said employment in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
C. The Employee's appointment shall be for a period of two
(2) years.
D. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent, limit, or
otherwise interfere with the right of the County Commission to
terminate the services of the Employee at any time for cause as
set forth in the Monroe County Employment Policies & Procedures
Manual as they now read and as they may be amended from time to
time.
E. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent, limit, or
otherwise interfere with the right of the Employee to resign at
any time from his position with the County, providing the Employ-
ee shall give the County Commission ninety (90) days notice in
advance, unless the parties shall otherwise agree.
2. Powers and Duties
The Employee shall be responsible for the administration of
all departments responsible to the Board of County Commissioners
and for the proper administration of all affairs under the
jurisdiction of the Board, including all the Districts governed
by the Board. To that end, the Employee shall by way of enumera-
tion and not by way of limitation, have the following specific
powers and duties to:
A. Administer and carry out the directives and policies of
the Board of County Commissioners and enforce all orders, Resolu-
tions, Ordinances, Administrative Orders, and regulations of the
Board to assure that they are faithfully executed.
B. Report to the Board on action taken pursuant to any
directive or policy within the time set by the Board and provide
an annual report to the Board on the state of the County, the
work of the previous year, and any recommendations as to actions
or programs he deems necessary for the improvement of the County
and the w"elfare of its residents.
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C. Provide the Board, or individual members thereof, upon
request, with data or information concerning County government
and to provide advice and reconnnendations on County government
operations to the Board.
D. Prepare and submit to the Board of County Connnissioners
for its consideration and adoption an annual operating budget, a
capital budget, and a capital program.
E. Establish the schedules and procedures to be followed
by all County Department offices, and agencies in connection with
the budget and supervise and administer all phases of the budget-
ary process.
F. Prepare and submit to the Board after the end of each
fiscal year a complete report on the finances and administrative
activities of the County for the preceding year and submit his
reconnnendations.
G. Supervise the care and custody of all County property.
H. Reconnnend to the Board a current position classifica-
tion and pay plan for all positions in County service.
I. Develop, install, and maintain centralized budgeting,
personnel, legal, and purchasing procedures.
J. Organize the work of County Departments, subject to an
administrative code developed by the Administrator and adopted by
the Board, and review the departments, administration, and
operation of the County and make reconnnendations pertaining
thereto for reorganization by the Board.
K. Select, employ, and supervise all personnel and fill
all vacancies, positions, or emploYment under the jurisdiction of
the Board. However, the emploYment of all Department Heads shall
require confirmation by the Board of County Connnissioners.
L. Suspend, discharge, or remove any employee under the
jurisdiction of the Board pursuant to procedures adopted by the
Board.
M. Negotiate leases, contracts, and other agreements,
including consultant services, for the County, subject to approv-
al of the Board, and make reconnnendations concerning the nature
and location of County improvements.
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N. See that all terms and conditions in all leases,
contracts, and agreements are performed and notify the Board of
any noted violation thereof.
O. Order, upon advis ing the Board, any agency under his
jurisdiction as specified in the administrative code to undertake
any task for any other agency on a temporary basis if he deems it
necessary for the proper and efficient administration of the
County government to do so.
P. Attend all meetings of the Board with authority to
participate in the discussion of any matter.
Q. Perform such other duties as may be required of him by
the Board of County Commissioners.
It is Board's intent to grant to the Employee only those
powers and duties which are administrative or ministerial in
nature a.nd not to delegate any governmental power imbued in the
Board of County Commissioners as the governing body of the County
pursuant to l(e), Art. VIII of the State Constitution. To that
end, the above specifically enumerated powers are to be construed
as administrative in nature and in any exercise of governmental
power the Administrator shall only be performing the duty of
advising the Board of County Commissioners in its role as the
policy-setting governing body of the County.
Further, it is the intent of the Board that said Employee
shall be the chief administrative official for Monroe County and
shall bE! responsible for the administration of all departments
which the Board has authority to control, including those dis-
tricts for which the Board sits as the governing body. Said
Employee shall be directly responsible to the Board and shall
implement and execute the policies of the Board as promulgated by
the Board in open official meetings; providing, however, that
said Employee shall not have authority to establish County
Policy, which policy decisions are hereby declared to be the
exclusive jurisdiction of the Board in exercising of the State of
Florida or for any general or special laws enacted thereunder.
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R. Supervise the construction, acquis ition, control, use
and main.tenance of all personal property, buildings, furnishings
and equipment owned or leased by the County.
S. Serve as a liaison between the governing body and other
County Officials, special tax districts within the County, the
County government of other Counties and all Federal and State
governmental agencies, officers and officials.
3. Method of Termination
A. For Cause. A majority of three (3) Commissioners of
the County Commission may remove the Employee from office for
cause as set forth in the Monroe County EmploYment Policies and
Procedures Manual in accordance with the procedures set forth in
the Coun.ty Administration Law of 1974 also known as Part III of
Chapter 125, Florida Statutes, as amended.
B. Termination without Cause. A majority of three (3)
Commissioners of the County Commission may remove the County
Administrator at any time without cause by enactment of a resolu-
tion at any regularly convened County Commission meeting in
accordance with the procedures set forth in the County Adminis-
tration Law of 1974 also known as Part III of Chapter 125,
Florida Statutes, as amended.
Upon adoption of said resolution by the Board, the County
Commission shall cause to be paid to the County Administrator the
balance due him in salary for the remainder of this two (2) year
Contract, or paYment of twelve (12) months of salary, whichever
is the greater amount, together with paYment for accrued annual
and sick leave not yet taken by him as well as any and all other
approved compensations that would normally be his due. All
severance paYments shall be rendered to the Employee within
twenty (20) days of his termination of County EmplOYment.
Additionally, in the event that said County Administrator is
removed by the Board for cause under the Provisions of 3.A above,
and a Court of competent jurisdiction renders a judgment which
shall become final after appeal, or without appeal, that said
removal for cause was without foundation in law or fact and
constitutes an abuse of discretion, then in that event, said
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removal shall then be deemed to have been a removal without cause
under the Provisions of 3.B, hereunder, and said Employee shall
be entitled to salary payment for the remainder of his two (2)
year Contract, or payment of twelve (12) months salary, whichever
is the greater amount, together with payment for accrued annual
and sick leave not yet taken by him as well as any and all other
approved compensations that would normally be his due.
In the event the employee is discharged prior to the expira-
tion of this contract and prevails in a law suit contesting the
validity of his discharge he shall be entitled to recover his
reasonable attorney's fees and costs. Such suit shall not
reinstate employee to the position of County Administrator.
In the event that the Board shall vote to abolish the office
of County Administrator during Employee's term of office, the
same shall be deemed a removal without cause under the provisions
of this subsection.
4. Reduction of Salary
The salary called for under this Agreement may at any time
during Employee's term be reduced by the Board of County Commis-
sioners so long as said reduction is a part of an across-the-
board reduction applicable to all County employees and so long as
such reduction is no greater a percentage than the applicable
across-the-board reduction for all County employees.
5. Salary and Benefits
The County agrees to pay Employee for his services, an
annual salary of $57,500.00, payable bi-weekly. In addition to
said salary, he shall be entitled to accrue annual leave in
accordance with the Monroe County Employment Policies and Proce-
dures in like manner as permanent employees and shall receive
retirement, holidays, life insurance, medical and hospitalization
insurance, sick leave and any all other benefits as are provided
permanent County employees. He shall be entitled to receive
reimbursement for travel and lodging while on County business in
the like manner afforded other County employees. There shall be
no requirement for prior approval in advance of travel outside of
the County except in instances where it is known that said travel
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will require absence from the County exceeding three (3) working
days.
Said Employee shall be provided by the County with a suit-
able automobile, office, office equipment, office supplies, and
personnel as he shall deem necessary for performing his duties as
County Administrator.
Said Employee shall receive annual cost of living and other
across-the-board salary raises as given to Monroe County employ-
ees each fiscal year.
6. Performance
The Employee agrees to devote his time, energy, and ability
to the interest of the County and to faithfully perform his
duties in an efficient and businesslike manner and in full
conformity with all rules, regulations, and procedures as they
exist at the time of the execution of this Agreement and as said
rules, regulations, and procedures may be amended subsequent
hereto.
7. County Property
All files concerning County business in the office of
Employee shall belong to and remain the property of the County.
However, the Employee shall have the right during the term of his
employment and after the termination of his employment to examine
and copy all such records prepared by him.
8. Non-Assignable Rights
The Employee's rights and obligations under this Agreement
are personal to him and are not assignable.
9. Interpretation of Agreement
This Agreement shall be interpreted, construed, and governed
according to the laws of the State of Florida and this Agreement
represents the entire and integrated Agreement between the County
and the Employee and supersedes all prior negotiations, represen-
tations, or agreements, either written or oral. This Agreement
may be amended only by written instrument signed by both the
County and the Employee.
10. Professional Development
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The County agrees to budget and to pay the dues and sub-
scriptions of Employee necessary for full participation in
National, Regional, State and Local Associations and Organiza-
tions necessary and desirable for the good of the County.
The County agrees to budget and to pay the travel and
subsistence expenses of Employee for travel.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have subscribed their
names and seals this day and year first above written.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
(SEAL)
Attest : DANNY L. KOL...TfAGE, Clerk
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THOMAS W. BROWN
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County Administrator
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WITNESS
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