Administrator, county agree to terms

BROOKSVILLE –
Hernando County Chairman Wayne Dukes said he has reached tentative agreement with Leonard Sossamon to take the vacant county administrator position.

Sossamon has agreed on a $125,000, five-year contract, Dukes said. That is up from the original offer of $120,000. This position was advertised at $120,000 to $150,000.

It is also about $10,000 less than what former County Administrator David Hamilton was making, so Dukes doesn’t think the salary will break the county’s back.

The contract also calls for a four-month severance package

After six months and a positive performance evaluation, Sossamon would receive a raise similar to other employees.

Dukes said the only sticking point is the $15,000 relocation fee. Sossamon’s wife plans to stay in North Carolina for a year to finish her job duties and retire.

Sossamon wants to apply the $15,000 to an apartment here instead of using it to relocate. The money would be used to help either with the rent or to furnish the place.

When his wife moves here in a year, Sossamon would pay for the relocation costs at that time out of his own pocket, Dukes said.

Dukes said the legal office has no problem with that use of the money but he wants to broach it at Tuesday’s county commission meeting to be sure all members are on board with the terms.

Sossamon, contacted in South Carolina, said he plans to look for a permanent home once his wife settles here and that the $15,000 would help him during this transition period.

Should Sossamon voluntarily resign before the expiration of his contract, then county commissioners would pay out his severance pay at their discretion.

If he resigns during his first two years of employment, he would reimburse Hernando County on a pro rata basis, not to exceed $15,000, for his relocation expenses.

Sossamon said he would like to start his duties within 30 days, barring any problems inking a formal agreement.

“I’m anxious to get there,” he said.

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