It’s no secret that Key West’s authorities has been in a state of upheaval since April, when three metropolis officers have been indicted and arrested on corruption costs, and a grand jury report detailed a community of “negligence, nepotism and manipulation at metropolis corridor.”
That investigation is ongoing and all of it predates the arrival of present metropolis supervisor Brian L. Barroso, who has initiated corrective actions to deal with the considerations outlined by the grand jury and has reorganized the construction of a number of metropolis departments. And whereas a number of metropolis staff have expressed assist for Barroso to the Keys Weekly, others should not beneficiant of their reward.
Planning director Katie Halloran resigned efficient Sept. 1, and on Sept. 2 despatched a letter to native media, explaining her resignation and addressing the letter to “Key West residents and voters.”
Within the two-page letter, Halloran writes that the “hostility directed on the planning division has worsened beneath present metropolis supervisor Brian Barroso’s administration.” She describes continual understaffing and writes that due to funding and staffing cuts, in addition to consolidation of positions and duties, “the planning division has now successfully been dismantled.” Halloran additionally particulars a disciplinary motion that was taken in opposition to her and the town’s failure to actively examine a grievance she filed in opposition to Barroso in April.
“I used to be knowledgeable by the Interim Metropolis Lawyer that the grievance should stay confidential to guard the investigation. After 4 months of no substantive progress to resolve the grievance, a brand new investigator was employed final week. I’m tentatively hopeful the Metropolis’s investigator will publish her report, that the Metropolis Fee will reply, and share the findings with the general public,” Halloran’s letter states.
“I’m deeply involved that implementation of the grand jury’s suggestions will stay a mirage,” Halloran writes. “Maybe this will likely be helpful to some. However particular remedy for some is an unfair drawback for a lot of others. For those who aren’t a well-connected property proprietor or enterprise particular person, and it’s a must to play by guidelines that others can bypass, you can’t compete. … The hostile work atmosphere at metropolis corridor as we speak is just not conducive to optimistic progress. … Key West is my hometown. I need to serve the general public, however at the moment I’m positive my time is healthier invested outdoors metropolis authorities.”
On Sept. 4, two days after Halloran despatched her letter to native media representatives, metropolis spokeswoman Alyson Crean launched a 400-word response entitled, “Correcting Misstatements,” denying the declare that the planning division had been dismantled.
“Out of concern for the 500-plus professionals who work for the taxpayers of the Metropolis of Key West, a few of the statements by Halloran must be corrected.
“The Planning Division has not been ‘dismantled.’ It’s now totally staffed for the primary time in a number of years, excluding the Director place, which was vacated by Halloran’s resignation on Sept 1.” (See under for Halloran’s full letter and the town’s response.)
The town’s response particulars the continuing reorganization of a number of metropolis capabilities and a consolidation of management within the curiosity of effectivity and collaboration. As a part of the restructuring, metropolis supervisor Brian L. Barroso has created the brand new Development Administration Division, a coalition of associated departments — planning, constructing, code enforcement, licensing, historic preservation and others — now beneath the “umbrella” of 1 progress administration director, Patrick Wright. Knowledgeable planner and former metropolis worker, Wright returned to Key West in April to steer the brand new division, a job that made him Halloran’s boss and third in command amongst metropolis directors, beneath the town supervisor and assistant metropolis supervisor, in keeping with the organizational chart on the town’s web site.
The brand new umbrella group “offers an interdepartmental collaborative alternative, changing the earlier ‘silo’ model association,” in keeping with an outline of the reorganization efforts that the Keys Weekly obtained from metropolis spokeswoman Alyson Crean on Aug. 28.
That overview states:
“Since January, Metropolis Supervisor Brian L. Barroso developed a sequence of organizational enhancements designed to ship extra environment friendly, responsive and efficient municipal providers. The initiatives centered on restructuring a number of key departments together with Planning, Constructing, and Code Enforcement whereas fostering an atmosphere the place teammates really feel valued, appreciated, and supported.
The primary initiative facilities on consolidating management of the bigger planning, constructing and code enforcement departments in addition to different divisions beneath one progress administration division director. … The expansion administration division now unites a number of crucial capabilities beneath one umbrella: Code Enforcement, Licensing, Constructing, Planning, Historic Structure Evaluate Fee (HARC), City Forestry, Housing and Group Improvement Workplace, Resiliency Division, Artwork in Public Locations and Group Redevelopment Space (CRA).
Hiring and Workforce Enhancements
The town has undertaken focused hiring efforts to fill crucial positions and entice professionals with experience in planning, development evaluation, preservation and enforcement. On the similar time, sure positions have been consolidated to get rid of duplication of effort, guaranteeing tax {dollars} are used effectively. Metropolis officers have:
- Appointed a brand new Code Enforcement Director with 22+ years of Florida expertise.
- Employed a Chief Constructing Official with greater than 40 years within the trades and intensive Monroe County information.
- Expanded Planning Division employees, together with a Senior Planner (Performing Metropolis Planner), Planning Mission Coordinator, Assistant Historic Preservation Planner, and a brand new Planner I.
- Promoted inner employees, together with development from Planner I to Planner II
- Strengthened inspection and oversight capability with a part-time HARC Inspector and an authorized City Forestry Supervisor.
- Added administrative assist positions devoted to each Development Administration and the Planning Division.
- Cross-trained Constructing Allow Technicians to consumption all allow sorts, eliminating the necessity for a specialised HARC/Tree Allow Technician.
The reorganization offers a number of advantages for residents, companies and builders. Sooner allowing, clearer processes and constant enforcement create a extra predictable regulatory atmosphere. Historic preservation choices are higher built-in with planning objectives, whereas property homeowners expertise improved service at each stage of the method. The town will proceed monitoring outcomes of the reorganization and make changes as wanted to make sure the best stage of service supply.“
Halloran’s letter and the town’s response to it are under:
Metropolis of Key West’s response to former planning director Katie Halloran’s letter:
