HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem C22 C22
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COUNTY of MONROE Mayor James K.Scholl,District 3
The Florida Keys Mayor Pro Tern Michelle Lincoln,District 2
Craig Cates,District 1
David Rice,District 4
Holly Merrill Raschein,District 5
Board of County Commissioners Meeting
May 21, 2025
Agenda Item Number: C22
2023-4020
BULK ITEM: Yes DEPARTMENT: Administration
TIME APPROXIMATE: STAFF CONTACT: Kevin Wilson
N/A
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval of a Resolution naming Cory Schwisow as Interim Monroe
County Emergency Management Director effective 5:00 p.m. on May 30, 2025.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
Monroe County Emergency Manager Shannon Weiner is resigning with an effective date of May 30,
2025. The County Administrator recommends the appointment of Cory Schwisow as the Interim
Emergency Management director.
State statute requires that each county have an emergency director who meets certain minimum
requirements for training and experience. F.S. 252.38(1)(b)l. Mr. Schwisow meets or exceeds all of
the requirements. The statute also requires each county BOCC to notify the Florida Department of
Emergency Management of the appointment of its emergency management director and other
personnel. F.S. 252.38(1)(b)3.
The resolution shall formally notify FDEM of Ms. Schwisow's appointment as interim director. The
resolution will also document the Board's delegation of authority for him to act as emergency director.
During times of a declared emergency, the County Code vests the emergency management director with
certain extraordinary powers including the authority to issue directives having the force of law and to
spend up to $1 million without seeking further approval.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
N/A
INSURANCE REQUIRED:
No
1161
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval.
DOCUMENTATION:
Resolution—naming_Cory_Schwisow—Interim—EM—Director stamped.pdf
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
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RESOLUTION NO. - 2025
A RESOLUTION OF THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS REGARDING COUNTY
ADMINISTRATION; APPOINTING CORY SCHWISOW AS
THE INTERIM EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR
EFFECTIVE 5 P.M. ON MAY 30, 2025; VESTING HIM WITH
FULL AUTHORITY TO ACT PURSUANT TO THE
AUTHORITY SET FORTH UNDER F.S.252.38, SECTIONS II-
1 THROUGH 11-5 OF THE MONROE COUNTY CODE OF
ORDINANCE, AND ALL OTHER RELEVANT LAWS,
REGULATIONS, AND POLICIES; PROVIDING FOR
SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
WHEREAS, F.S. 252.38(1)(b)1 requires each County to have an Emergency
Management Director; and
WHEREAS, F.S. 252.38 vests a county's emergency management director with a
number of responsibilities and authorities; and
WHEREAS, Monroe County Emergency Management Director Shannon Davis
Weiner has submitted her resignation effective 5 p.m. on May 30, 2025; and
WHEREAS, Cory Schwisow has been working as the County's Deputy Emergency
Management Director for approximately two years; and
WHEREAS, F.S. 252.38(1)(b)4 requires that the County Commission promptly
notify the Florida Division of Emergency Management of the appointment of a director
and other personnel; and
WHEREAS, Sections 11-1 through 11-5 of the County Code vests the
Emergency Management Director with certain responsibilities including but not limited
to issuing directives having the effect of law as well as purchasing authority of up to
$1 million without requiring additional approvals during a declared emergency; and
WHEREAS, the Board finds it in the best interests of the County to name Cory
Schwisow as its Interim Emergency Management Director and to vest Mr. Schwisow
with all of the authority and responsibility that accompanies a county emergency
management director; and
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners wishes to provide for a delegation
of authority in order to ensure that Mr. Schwisow has the necessary powers and authorities to
serve in the capacity of Interim Emergency Management Director; and
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WHEREAS,F.S.252.38 and Sections 11-3 and 11-4 of the County Code list the power and
duties that may be exercised by the County's emergency management director; and
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners wishes to ensure that all powers and
authorities that would be accorded to the county emergency management director through
Chapter 252, Florida Statutes, the Monroe County Code, and other Monroe County policies
and procedures, are made equally available to Cory Schwisow in his capacity as the Interim
Emergency Management Director, through an express delegation of authority;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY,AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. FINDINGS. The findings contained in the recitals set forth above are true and
correct.
SECTION 2. APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR.
Cory Schwisow is hereby appointed as the Interim Emergency Management Director for Monroe
County, effective at 5:00 p.m. on Friday May 30,2025, and shall continue until the effective date
of appointment of a replacement County Emergency Management Director by resolution of the
Board or similar action.
SECTION 3. AUTHORITY OF INTERIM COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
DIRECTOR.
A. Legal Authority. The Interim Emergency Management Director shall have the
authority to carry out all functions, powers and duties assigned to the position of
County Emergency Management Director in state law, the Code, and other applicable
regulations,Executive Orders,and all resolutions,policies and procedures of the County.
All delegations of responsibility and authority to the Emergency Management
Director made by the Board apply equally to the Interim Emergency
Management Director during the term of his appointment unless expressly
modified or rescinded by the Board.
B. Administration: The Interim Emergency Management Director shall carry
out all functions otherwise assigned to the County Administrator under the Act
and the Code necessary to serve as the administrative head of the County.
Authorities delegated to the Acting County Administrator in order to
accomplish this purpose include signatory authority for all contracts legally
approved and entered into by the County pursuant to the Act, the Code, general
laws of the State of Florida, and the County's Purchasing Policy.
SECTION 4. NOTIFICATION TO FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT. The Clerk is directed to transmit a copy of this resolution to Kevin
Guthrie, Executive Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management,
Kevin.Guthriekem.myflorida.com;
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S E C T 10 N S. SEVERABILITY. If any section, sentence, clause or provision
of this Resolution is held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent
jurisdiction, such invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not be construed to render
invalid or unconstitutional the remaining sections, sentences, clauses or provisions
of this Resolution.
SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon
adoption,
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe
County, Florida, at a regular meeting held on the 21 st of May 2025.
Mayor James K. Scholl
Mayor Pro Tem Michelle Lincoln
Commissioner Craig Cates
Commissioner David Rice
Commissioner Holly Merrill Raschein
(SEAL) BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ATTEST: KEVIN MADOK, CLERK OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By: By:
As Deputy Clerk Mayor James K. Scholl
Approved as to form and legal sufficiency
Robert B. Shillinger, Monroe County Attorney
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