Bob Hunter: double-dipper or treasured smart-growth advocate?
February 16, 2009 at 3:25 pm by Wayne GarciaPoHo’s activist correspondent Kelly Cornelius wrote earlier today about the issue of Hillsborough Planning Commission former exec Bob Hunter and his possible rehiring.
Hunter was pretty widely respected prior to his retirement, but stories in the local press about his rehiring are focusing on the fact that he would be legally allowed to “double-dip,” or take a retirement check in addition to a salary for returning to his old job.
10 Connects’ Mike Deeson, whose reporting comes under fire in Cornelius’ blog post, reported late last week:
We have learned the former head of the Hillsborough Planning Commission, Bob Hunter, had worked on a plan for years to get his $145,000 a year job back after he retired.
As we first reported Wednesday, Hunter who retired December 31st wanted his job back 40 days after leaving. As part of his retirement, Hunter will receive $41,796 every year for the rest of his life and he will get a one-time payout from the Florida Retirement System of more than $200,000.
Hunter thinks [returning to his old job] is a great idea. When I asked him why he would come back after retiring in December, he gave a convoluted answer saying, “There are some things from the standpoint of planning” that he would like to do.
While Hunter’s answer might not be clear, it is clear he has been planning this move for almost three years. Through a public records request, we uncovered an e-mail dated March 21 2006.
In the e-mail, the Planning Commission lawyer tells Hunter his plan to get a promise to be rehired before he left, wouldn’t work.
The e-mail says, “It appears giving you any kind of commitment to rehire you after the DROP period has significant risk for the agency and you personally.”
