Sarasota County hires development services manager

As part of the restructuring of the government’s organization, Sarasota County hired a new development services manager this week.

Dennis Murphy will begin work Monday, Dec. 15.

Murphy will report to Tom Polk, the planning and development services director. Murphy’s position is a part of the restructuring of the county’s government, which was initiated by County Administrator Tom Harmer after he was hired in February.

Planning and Development Services is now the departmental hub for several other services, including planning services, environmental protection, permit intake services and development services. Development services is a compilation of further services, including land development, building inspections and code enforcement.

Polk said the restructure was helpful—before, he had 12 managers reporting to him; now, he only has four.

“It allows for better management,” Polk said.

Murphy will be paid $87,505 annually and oversee 73 employees. His duties will include assisting with the unlicensed and unpermitted enforcement program, Land Information System updates, the Post Disaster Redevelopment Plan and a comprehensive review of land development policies and processes, according to a press release from the county.

He worked 13 years in Charlotte County and nine in Punta Gorda, where he managed daily operations of the city’s divisions of land zoning, compliance and development as the director of growth management.