By a vote of 4-1, the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday, July 18, to accept the resignation of Hunter S. Conrad as county administrator and authorized a separation agreement.
Conrad submitted a letter of resignation to the board on June 29. The board had planned to meet June 30 to discuss the professional services agreement between Conrad and the county, but that meeting was canceled with reception of the letter.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Deputy County Attorney Lex Taylor presented Conrad’s proposed separation agreement, which includes a provision for severance pay equal to 20 weeks of compensation at his current rate of pay and continuation of insurance coverage for 20 weeks.
It also includes a mutual non-disparagement clause, which appears to apply to all county employees. If the county chose not to accept the clause, the agreement could have been subject to counter proposals from each party until both sides agreed.
In addition, the board agreed to appoint Deputy County Administrator Joy Andrews as the interim county administrator. The county attorney will draft an employment agreement for Andrews.
By a unanimous vote, the board agreed to direct the human resources department to perform an expedited national search for a permanent county administrator and assemble a search committee.
The county will hire an executive recruiter with the goal of completing the process within 90 days.
The selection committee will vet the candidates and recommend between three and 10 of them for the board to interview.
