By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

Bronson Town Clerk Pamela Whitehead tendered her resignation Monday night and refused to withdraw it despite an emotional request from Councilwoman Beatrice Roberts to reconsider.

Whitehead has worked as the town clerk for three years but ran into problems recently when the audit report showed the town had operated at a $222,000 deficit in the year 2016-17.

She made no mention of the audit report in her May 29 letter of resignation. Her final day with the town is June 12. The town isn’t advertising for a replacement at this time.

“Please accept this letter as official notice of my resignation. As you know, the Town of Bronson has seen many changes in the almost three years I have been employed with the Town. I have learned much about this community, and have worked hard to further the goals of the Town for the residents I served. However, it is with both happiness and regret that I resign from my position with the Town of Bronson,” she said.

Former Deputy Clerk Susie Robinson has offered to come into Town Hall for two or three hours a day to help with operations after Whitehead leaves. Robinson resigned a short time ago to care for her aging mother.

Public Works Director Erik Wise said interviews were conducted Tuesday with candidates for deputy clerk, but since the issue wasn’t on the agenda, the council didn’t want to discuss a non-agenda item.

Wise, along with Parks and Recreation Director Curtis Stacy will be holding down the fort when Whitehead leaves. They are the only two remaining administrators for the town.

Mayor Bruce Greenlee said Whitehead would be missed.
“I guess I can only say I wish you the best. I never wanted to hold a person back if they think there’s something better out there,” Greenlee said.

Roberts said, “I’m just sick about it.”
She added, “It’s a bad situation.”

Whitehead requested pay for her vacation time and sick leave. Councilwoman Katie Parks pointed out she is entitled to 25 percent of her unused sick leave. A motion to pay her for vacation and sick time was approved.

“It’s going to be difficult but I understand you have to do what’s best for you and your family,” Parks said.

Parks said the town only has nine days before Whitehead leaves.

Whitehead leaves at an especially stressful time of the year. The town generally starts developing its budget for the coming year in the early summer months. The council didn’t say how long the process of finding a replacement would last and made no effort to advertise the position. Instead, the council agreed to Councilman Robert Partin’s suggestion to hold a workshop for the purpose of meeting with Walstaff and Express Employment about a temporary replacement for Whitehead.

IN OTHER BUSINESS:

• The council agreed to remove a sidewalk from the Picnic Street resurfacing project. The Florida Department of Transportation approved a Small Communities Outreach Grant to pay for the Picnic Street resurfacing, but recently wrote the town saying the sidewalk isn’t eligible for SCOP funding. Greenlee, who has experience in dealing with FDOT, said the best thing to do is remove the sidewalk from the project. He said that may leave more money in the repaving portion of the grant to do a better job with the asphalt. He said the town can stay in touch with FDOT and wait to see if the town can perhaps take advantage of perhaps money in the transportation alternatives program if it becomes available.

• Wise was given permission to obtain more details about a program that would allow the town to purchase an “optimal solar energy system” for the town’s wastewater treatment plant. Florida Solar Utilities LLC is the company Wise is working with. The company says that the cost of the system would be $584,375. Under the state’s solar incentives program, 80 percent of the loan would be forgiven, leaving the town with a loan of $116,875 to pay back over 20 years. Wise says it’s a good deal for the town. He said the solar energy collected by the system would generate more electricity than the waste treatment plant needs and power could be sold back to Central Florida Electric Cooperative. He said a 50-kilowatt battery would be part of the system, big enough to operate the plant overnight, giving the town time to make repairs.

Photo by Terry Witt: Bronson Town Clerk Pam Whitehead talks to council members Robert Partin, Katie Parks, Mayor Bruce Greenlee, Beatrice Roberts and Jason Hunt about her resignation.

Town of Bronson Regular Meeting June 4, 2018
Posted June 4, 2018