published: Monday, June 18, 2012

Helms rated as "poor"

By ED BALDRIDGE

ed.baldridge@newssusn.com

SEBRING – When figured as an average, commissioners rated County Administrator Ricky Helms’ performance as poor overall in the evaluations they submitted on Monday.

Based on a new rating scale of one-to-four, one being the lowest rating Helms could receive and four being the highest, the average score from all five commissioners equaled just 2.3726.

Just three ticks above a poor rating.

The commission moved two weeks ago to evaluate Helms after Board Chairman Jack Richie asked fellow commissioners at the end of the meeting for a motion to place Helms on administrative leave and put him on a seven-day notice of his termination, but Richie did not get support from the rest of the commissioners.

"He (Helms) had over three months that he would make some corrections, and he didn't do that. That's why I am asking for a motion," Richie said.

"I tried to steer past a public agenda item. This does not need to be aired to the public. I made a promise to Mr. Helms to do that. He took over a position that he was pushed into. There have been many situations that I have personally been less than satisfied about," Richie said. "We are going to have to make the decision sooner or later, and there is no time like the present," Richie added.

The board is scheduled to discuss Helms' evaluation and set a direction during the meeting on Tuesday, 9 a.m. at the Government Building in Sebring.

By ED BALDRIDGE

ed.baldridge@newssusn.com

SEBRING – When figured as an average, commissioners rated County Administrator Ricky Helms’ performance as poor overall in the evaluations they submitted on Monday.

Based on a new rating scale of one-to-four, one being the lowest rating Helms could receive and four being the highest, the average score from all five commissioners equaled just 2.3726.

Just three ticks above a poor rating.

The commission moved two weeks ago to evaluate Helms after Board Chairman Jack Richie asked fellow commissioners at the end of the meeting for a motion to place Helms on administrative leave and put him on a seven-day notice of his termination, but Richie did not get support from the rest of the commissioners.

"He (Helms) had over three months that he would make some corrections, and he didn't do that. That's why I am asking for a motion," Richie said.

"I tried to steer past a public agenda item. This does not need to be aired to the public. I made a promise to Mr. Helms to do that. He took over a position that he was pushed into. There have been many situations that I have personally been less than satisfied about," Richie said. "We are going to have to make the decision sooner or later, and there is no time like the present," Richie added.

The board is scheduled to discuss Helms' evaluation and set a direction during the meeting on Tuesday, 9 a.m. at the Government Building in Sebring.