By DOTTY NIST
As determined at the Aug. 25 Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) meeting, Jim Bagby is to serve his last day as Walton County Tourist Development Council (TDC) director on Oct. 16. Also during that meeting at the Walton County Courthouse, the commissioners put plans in place for transition with the TDC staff leadership position.
In response to Bagby’s request, the commissioners voted 3-1 to accept the terms of a “separation and release” agreement negotiated between Bagby’s attorney and Walton County Attorney Mark Davis. District 2 Commissioner Cecilia Jones’ was the no vote.
At Davis’ request, the actual agreement was not approved due to it not having been “published,” as he termed it, for examination by the public at the time of the meeting. Davis said the agreement had been emailed to the commissioners the previous evening.
At Davis’ request the commissioners agreed to put the actual agreement on the agenda for their next meeting, which is scheduled for Sept. 8. He noted that it would be possible to make changes in the document if needed prior to that time.
The agreement provides for payment to Bagby the equivalent of 20 weeks’ salary, along with a pro rata share of the health insurance benefit in connection with his position and compensation for accrued annual leave and sick leave.
Bagby, who had been faced with the death of two close family members during the past couple of weeks, expressed thanks to the commissioners and others who had extended condolences to him and his family.
“It’s been my honor and my pleasure to serve as TDC director,” he said, adding that “it’s probably time to do something else.”
“Our hearts, all of us, have been with you,” District 4 Commissioner Sara Comander responded. She suggested that this might be a good time for Bagby to spend time with his family.
The remaining three commissioners present expressed thanks to Bagby for his service. County Commission Chairman Bill Imfeld observed that Bagby had accomplished the goals set forth for him by the BCC.
Walton County District 5 Commissioner Cindy Meadows was not present for the meeting.
Commissioner Cecilia Jones had been critical of Bagby in recent weeks due to his having given an employee a raise that Jones had stated she had told him not to proceed with—and that she maintained was not within his authority to provide. At the outset of the Aug. 25 meeting she had placed an item on the agenda under her name calling for the immediate termination of the TDC director “without cause,” along with discussion of a transition plan and the scheduling of a meeting to discuss “reorganization of the TDC.”
However, Bagby’s request for approval of the separation agreement preceded Jones bringing up these items.
Bagby thanked the commissioners and noted that he believed that progress had been made over his two years as TDC director with financial control and restructuring of the TDC organization to make it more efficient and businesslike. He added that he wished the public could have been informed better about the measures directed by the TDC and undertaken by the TDC to improve the “lifestyle and experience” of the area. He gave the example of the TDC taking over maintenance of the multi-use path.
The commissioners voted 4-0 to enlist Walton County Deputy Administrator Stan Sunday to step in and take the lead in ensuring a smooth transition with the organization, during which time the county would advertise for a new director. Sunday had been called on to assist in this manner after the resignation of Dawn Moliterno, previous TDC director, prior to Bagby coming on board.
Later in the meeting, Commissioner Jones commented that she would still request that a meeting be set to discuss reorganization of the TDC, partly due to recent talk about privatizing the organization.
A presentation on the pros and cons of privatizing the TDC as a 501(c)(6 ) organization is scheduled for the next TDC bimonthly meeting at 9 a.m. on Oct. 6 at the South Walton Annex.
