Item R8
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: Sept. 16. 2009 (Marathon) Division: County Attorney
Bulk Item: Yes X No - Department:
Staff Contact Person/Phone #:Cynthia Hall. x 3174
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval to file appeal in the matter of Thomas J. Willi v. Monroe
County BOCC, Unemployment Compensation Case 2009-58952U.
ITEM BACKGROUND: In January 2008, the BOCC approved a settlement with the former County
Administrator, representing a buyout of the remaining term of his contract and release of all claims
against the County by the fonner Administrator in return for payment of$282,354.84.
Mr. Willi signed the release and accepted the payment. Following the last date on which his contract
would otherwise have expired (Oct. 30, 2008), he filed a claim for uninsurance benefits against the
County and began receiving benefits. The County's appeal to an Appeals Referee within the Agency
for Workforce Innovation was denied on August 25,2009. The County has 20 calendar days, or until
September 14, 2009, within which to file an appeal to the Unemployment Appeals Commission, and
will be asking retroactively for the BOCC's approval to pursue the appeal.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
Resolution 484-2007, cancelling employment contract effective January 4,2008.
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Approval
TOTAL COST L- INDIRECT COST: BUDGETED: Yes XX No -
DIFFERENTIAL OF LOCAL PREFERENCE: n/a
COST TO COUNTY: SOURCE OF FUNDS:
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes No X AMOUNT PER MONTH Year
APPROVED BY: County Atty ~ OMB/Purchasing _ Risk Management ~
DOCUMENTATION: Included - Not Required_
DISPOSITION: AGENDA ITEM #
Revised 7/09
AUG-31-2009 09:27A FROM: 3052924564 TO: 92923516 P.2/4
( ~
AGENCY FOR WORKFORC OV ArraN
Unemployment Compens. t on Appeals
MSC 347 Caldwell i1ding
107 East Madison reet
Tallahassee FL 323' -4143
IMPORTANT: For free translation assistance, you may call 1-800-204-2418. 1 se do not delay, as there is a 1imiled time to appeal.
IMPORT ANTE: Para recibir ayuda gratuita con traduccioncs, pucde. lIamar al I. 00-204.2418. Por favor hagalo 10 antes posible, ya que el
ticmpo para apelnr es [jmilado,
ENPoT AN: Pou yon inteprel asistc au gratis, nou gendwa r~le 1-800.204~ 18, Sil vou pIe pa prAn ampiJ tan, paske tan limite pou ou ranpli
apella.
SSN: 096-62-2444 J mployer Account No.: 9975725
Docket No. 2009-58952U isdiction: 9443. t51(4)(a)&;{b) Florida Statutes
CLAIMANT! Appellee MPLOYERI Appellant
THOMAS J WILLI ONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY OFF
1023 LAGOON DRIVE o OFF OF MANAGEMENT BUDGET
SUMMERLAND KEY FL 33042 100 SIMONTON 8T
EY WEST FL 33040-311Q
APPEARANCES: CLAIMANT & EMPLOYER LOCAL OFFICE #: 3684-0
DECISION OF APPE ' S REFEREE
Important appeal rights are explained at the end: this decision.
Derechos de apelaci6n importantes son explicado J final de esta decision.
Yo eksplike kek dwa dapel enpotan Ian fen desi Pi sa a.
Issues Involved:
SEPARATION: Whether the claimant was discharged for misc. duct connected with work or voluntarily left work
without good cause as defined in the statute, pursuant to Sect s 443.101(1), (9), (10), (II); 443.036(29), Florida
Statutes; Rule 60BB-3.020, Florida Administrative Code.
j
Findings of Fact: The claimant was employed as a county .., inistrator beginning on November 1, 2004. The
claimant signed a contract with the employer. The claimant' jl ontract expired in October 2008. Under the
contract the employer could cancel the claimant's contract w'~ out cause at any time during the contract. The
employer notified the claimant on December 5, 2007, that hi . ontract was going to be cancelled as of January
4, 2008. The claimant worked until January 4, 2008. The cia, ,ant separated from employment on that date.
Conclusions of Law: The unemployment compensation law ovides that a claimant who has voluntarily left
work without good cause or has been discharged by the empl.. ing unit for misconduct connected with the work
shall be disqualified from receiving benefits. ~:
I
The record and evidence in this case show that the claimant 1 ame separated from employment when his
contract was cancelled. :
The facts reflect that the claimant fulfilled the claimant's con ctual obligation by working until January 4,
2008. When the claimant's contract ended without the execu n of a new contract, the employer/employee
relationship ceased to exist. The claimant had no employme J 0 leave at that point; the claimant simply
became unemployed. Thereforel it can only be concluded th ~ the claimant is not disqualified from the receipt
of benefits. . j
The hearing officer was presented with conflicting testimony r garding material issues of fact and is charged
with resolving these conflicts. The Unemployment Appeals . mmission has set forth factors to be conside'red
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OU8-31-2009 09' 280 FROM> II
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'. Do"e. No. 2009-58952U , P'ge 2 of3
i in resolving ~redibil!ty questions. These faelors include I' witness' opportunity ~nd .capacity to .observe the
' event or act In questIOn; any pnor inconsIstent statement ~I the witness; WItness bias or lack of bIas; the
r contradiction of the witness' version of events by other e.Jj ence or its consistency with other evidence; the
inherent improbability of the witness' version of events; the witness' demeanor. Upon considering these
in the evidence are resolved in favor of the claimant. :1
Decision: The detennination dated April 24,20091 is AF :! ED.
If this decision disqualifies and/or holds the claimant inel 'ble for benefits already received, the claimant will
he required to repay those benefits. The specifie amount 't any overpayment will be calculated by the Agency
imd set forth in a sep.rate overpayment detennination, u '10 ss specified in this decision. However, the time to
request review of this decision is as shown above and" not stopped, delayed ot extended by any other
determination, decision or order. :
This is to certify that a copy of the above decision w
mailed to the last known address of each interested part NATHALIE HARRIS
on August 25, 2009. :j Appeals Referee
By: ~ fCLU
LISA RELL, Deputy Clerk 'I
i'
IMPORTANT - APPEAL RIGHTS: This decision will . come flnaJ unless a written request for review or
reopening is filed within 20 calendar ~ays after the mailing J e shown. If the 20th day is a Saturday, Sunday or
holiday defioed in FAC. 60BB-6.004, filing may be mad"l n the next day that i8 not a Saturday, Sunday or
holiday. If this decision disqualifies andlor holds the cl '. ant ineligible for benefits already received, the
claimant will he required to repay those benefits. The specifi '. mount of .ny overpayment will be calculated by
the Agency and set forth in a separate Overpayment detenni ' ion. However, the time tQ request review of this
decision is as shown above and is not stopped, delayed or '.f. tended by any other determination, decision or
~~ .
A party who did not attend the hearing for good cause mal! request reopening, including the reason for not
attending, at www.fluidnow.com/appeals or by writing to t i address at the top of this decision. The date the
confirmation number is generated will he the filing date of a r uest for reopening on the Appeals Web Site.
A party who attended the hearing and received an advers decision may file a request for review to the
Unemployment Appeals Commission, Suite 101 Rhyne Buil g, 2740 Centerview Drive, Tall.hassee, Florida
32399-4151; (Fax: 850-488-2i23); hit s:/IWWW.uac,f1. ov/ ' , cal.as x. If mailed, the postmark date will be
the filing date. Iffaxed, hand-delivered, delivered by courier s ice other than the United States Postal Service,
or submitted via the Internet, the date of receipt will be thqjtlling date. To avoid delay, include the docket
number and c1aimant~s social security number. A party requelg, g review should specify any and aU allegations
of error with respect to the referee~s decision~ and provide ... tuaI and/or legal support for these challenges.
Allegations of error not specifically set forth in the request for: iew may be considered W?ived.
IMPORT ANTE ~ DERECHOS DE APELACION: Esta ded ion pasani a ser final a menos que una solicitud
por escrito para revisi6n 0 rcapertura se regist,e dentro de 20 1!i de calendario despues de la fecha mare.da en
AUG-31-2009 09:29R FROM: 3052924564 TO: 92923516 P.4-'4
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Docket No. 2009-58952U I Page 3 of3
que la decision fue remitida por correa. Si el vigt!simo (201' fa e, un sabado, un domingo 0 un feriado definido,
en F.A.C. 60BB-6.004, el registro de la soIicitud se puede:f alizar en el dia siguiente que no sea un sabada, un
domingo 0 un feriado. Si esta decision descalifica y/o ~ clara al reclamante como inelegible para recibir
beneficios que ya fueron recibidos par el reclamante, se Ie V~ uerira al rec1amante rembolsar esos beneficios. La
cantidad especlfica de cualquier 'obrepago [pugo exces~ de benq,c;os] sern cal.ulad. par la Agenci. y
establecida en una determinacion de pago excesivo de ben. . cios que sera emitida pOT separado. Sin embargo,
ellimite de. tiempo para solicitar I~ revi'io~ de esta decisi .~ es COl~o se e~m,blece anleriormente y dicho limite
no es detemdo, demorado 0 extendldo por mnguna otra det1. maclOn, deCISIon u orden.
Una parte que no asisti6 a la audiencia por una buena caus uede solicitar una reapertura, incluyendo la raz6n
por no haber comparecido en la audiencia, en www.f1uidl w.com/a eals 0 escribiehdo a la direcci6n en ]a
parte superior de esta decisi6n. La fecha en que se genera. numero de confirmacion sera la fecha de registro
de una solicitud de reapertura realizada en el Sitio Web de I ficina de Apelaciones.
Una parte que asisti6 a la audiencia y recibi6 una decisi6n 1 ersa puede registrar una solicitud de revision con
la Comisi6n de Apelaciones de Desempleo; Unemployme l Appeals Commission, Suite 101 Rhyne Building,
2740 Centerview Drive, . TaJlahassee, Ploti. a 32399-4151; (Fax: 850-488-2123);
https:/!www.uac,f1.gov/Appeal..spx, Si I. solicitud es en ji da ppr correo, I. fecha del ,ello de Ia oficina de
correos sera Ia fecha de registro de la solicitud. 8i es en . da por telefax, entregada a mana, entregada por
servicio de mensajeria, con la excepci6n del Servicio Post '.' de Estados Unidos, 0 reaIizada via el Internet, la
fecha en la que se recibe la solicitud sera. la fecha de r 'stro. Para evitar demora, incluya el mimero de
expedieme [docket number] y el numero de segura social . I reclamante. Una parte q;ue solicita una revision
debe cspecificar cualquiera y todos los alegatos de error co" respecto a la decision del arbitro, y proporcionar
fundamentos reales y/o legales para substanciar estos desa . Los alegatos de error que no se estabIezcan con
especificidad en la soIicitud de revision pueden considerars. omo renunciados.
ENPOT AN - DW A DAPEL: Desizyon sa a ap defmitif so i ou depoze yon apeI nan yon dele 20 jou apre dat
nou poste sa a ba ou. Si 20yem jou a se yon sarndi, yon di ch oswa yon jou konje, jan sa defini Ian VA.C.
60BB-6.004, depo an kapab fetjou apre a, si se pa yon sam ., yon dimanch oswa yonjou konje. Si desizyon an
diskalifye epi/oswa deklare moun k ap Ie demann ian pa k . e pou aJokasyon Ii resevwa deja, moun k ap fe
dcmann Ian ap gen pou Ii remet lajan Ii te resevwa a. Se Aj Ian k ap kaIkile montan nenpot ki pernan anplis
epi y ap detemine sa Ian yon desizyon separe. Sepandan) del pOll mande revizyon desizyon sa a se dele yo bay
anwo a; Okenn lot deteminasyon, desizyon oswa lad pa ka r9 ' retade oubyen pwoJonje dat sa a.
Yon pati ki te gen yon rezon valab pOll Ii pat asiste seyans Ii gen dwa mande pou yo ouvri ka a anko; fok yo
bay rezon yo pat ka vini an epi te demann nan sou sitweb: a, ,vww.t1uidnow.com/aooeals oswa alekri nan
adres ki mansyone okomansman desizyon sa a. Dat yo pwo)l i nimewo konfimasyon an se va dat yo prezante
demann nan pOll reouvri koz la sou Sitweb ApelIa. !~
Yon pad ki te asiste seyans la epi ki pat satisfe desizyon YO~lt pran an gen dwa mande yon revizyon nan men
Unemployment Appeals Commission, Suite 101 Rhyne Buil~'ng, 2740 Centerview Drive, Tallahassee, Florida
32399-4151; (Fax: 850-488-2123); htt s:/Iwww.uac.fl. ovl cal.as x. Si au voye I p~ lapos, dat ki sou tenb
la.p dat ou depoze apella. Si ou depaze apella sou yon sil' ou rak,e Ii. bay Ii men nan lamen, osw. voye Ii
pa yon sevis mesajri ki pa Sevis Lap/>s Lezetazini (United Sf. s Postal Service), oswa voye Ii pa Enteoet, dat ki
sou resi a se va dat depo a. Pou evite reta, mete nimewo rejJ la (docket number) avek nimewo sekirite sosyal
moun k ap fe demann Ian. Yon pati k ap mande revizyon dw,' resize nenpot ki alegasyoo ere nan kad desizyon
abit la, cpi bay baz reyel oubyen lega] pou apiye alegasyon s o. Yo pap pran an konsiderasyon alegasyon ere
ki pa byen presize nan demann pou revizyon an.
Any questions related to benefits or claim ccrtiJications should be referred to t e Claims Information Center at 1-800.204-2418. An equal
opportunity employer/program. ^uxiliary aids llnd services ~re available upo equest to individuals with disabilities. Voice telephone
numbers on [his document may hI: reached by persons using lTYITD. equipment via the Florida Relay Service at 711.
.,
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Resolution No. 4R.L1 -2007
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE
COUNTY, FLORIDA, NOTIFYING THOMAS J. WILLI THAT mE COUNTY WILL
BE TERMINATING ms EMPLOYMENT WITHOUT CAUSE BY CANCELLING HIS
EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT EFFECfIVE JANUARY 4. 2008.
WHEREAS, the Board of Coooty Commissioners entered into an employment
agreement with Thomas J. Willi ('Willi") on or about September 8, 2004 through which Mr.
Willi agreed to serve as County Administrator for a four year period starting November 1. 2004;
and
WHEREAS, in the aforementioned contract, the Board of County Commissioners
retained the right to terminate Mr. Willi wi1hout cause; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to paragraph 7(f)(3) of the aforementioned contract, the Board
must provide written notice via resolution to Mr. Willi of its intent to cancel the contract; and
WHEREAS, under the agreement, the Board must give Mr. Willi 30 days notice of its
intent to cancel the contract;
WHEREAS, the Board has met at a duly noticed, special meeting called for this purpose;
and
WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida that this Resolution shall serve as the 3D-day written notice to Mr. Willi that his contract
is being cancelled; and
WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Board that Mr. Willi's contract shall be cancelled
effective January 4, 2008; and
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, as follows:
1. The Board of COlUlty Commissioners, by this resolution, gives written notice to
Thomas J. Willi that the Board is cancelling his employment contract to serve as
County Administrator. effective January 4. 2008.
2. The County Attorney, andlor her designee, and the COlUlty Clerk, and/or his
designee, are hereby authorized to take all steps necessary to terminate the
agreement and make all payments due to Mr. Willi WIder his employment
contract.
3. Mr. Willi is directed to immediately turn over all County owned and/or leased
property in his possession, with the exception of his cellular phone, to the Deputy
County Administrator anellor her designee. County owned or leased items that are
not in his immediate possession shall be turned over to the Deputy County
Administrator and/or her designee within 24 hours.
4. Mr. Willi is directed that, for the next 30 days, he is to report to work at his home
and be available to consult by telephone from 8 am. Wltil 6 p.m. with any
Commissioner, any person named Acting County Administrator, the Deputy
County Administrator and/ or her designee, the County Attorney and/or her
designee, the Clerk and/or his designee, and any Division Director.
S. Mr. Willi is directed to make only County business calls on his County cellular
phone and to turn over that phone to the Deputy County Administrator or her
designee on January 5, 200S.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board OfCOlUlty Commissioners of Monroe COWlty,
Florida, at a special meeting of the Board, which was called for this pwpose and held on
the 5th day of December, 2007.
Mayor McCoy .NG-
Mayor Pro Tern Di Gennaro 1!La...
Commissioner Neugent 46-s
Commissioner Spehar ~
Commissioner Murphy ~
.
.
BOARD OF COUNfY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE CO . FLORIDA
By:
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