Manatee County parts ways with HR director
Manatee County has parted ways with Human Resources Director Jennifer Harmon after months of concern over the state of the department.
County officials declined to comment when reached this week with questions about the situation.
Commissioners have scrutinized the county's Human Resources department since early this year when concern rose over the handling of sensitive situations after a sexual harassment claim reported in person multiple times drew little attention until it was eventually reported in writing.
Previously: What to know in Manatee: gun carry for county employees, outside firm to address HR woes
More: Rough week for Manatee Administrator Scott Hopes following botched deputy administrator hire
Hopes initiated a third-party investigation with an outside law firm during his time at the county, but commissioners opted not to pursue any further investigation because Manatee County School District General Counsel Mitchell Teitelbaum, who was slated to step into a role as a deputy county administrator, declined the role after the complaint was made against him. Teitelbaum maintains his innocence and claims his wife was with him at all times during a tour of the office space at the time of the claim.
Commissioners publicly scolded former County Administrator Scott Hopes soon after news of the incident went public, and raised concern about the state of the county's human resources department at the same time.
Also: Hopes responds to resignation, describes separation from Manatee County as 'mutual'
And: Fired Manatee employee says Scott Hopes told him to suppress sexual harassment claim
Hopes resigned from the county in February, although he described the separation as "mutual." Since then records show that former Deputy County Administrator Robert Reinshuttle claims Hopes asked him to suppress the sexual harassment claim.
Commissioners voted unanimously in April to hire a third-party firm to operate Human Resources activities on behalf of Manatee County.
Harmon was hired in July 2022 nearly a year after former HR Director Kim Stroud was terminated under Hope's administration in August 2021.
Commissioners have not addressed the need for a new HR director publicly, although they met for a county meeting on Tuesday.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Jennifer Harmon out as Manatee County HR director
