Simpson resigns from P&Z director position

Monica Simpson resigned from her position as Longboat Key Planning Zoning & Building Director Dec. 2, one-and-a-half months after employees first alleged that she bullied them and created a hostile work environment.

Simpson will receive three months’ severance pay and will continue to perform work for the town as a consultant at a rate of $97.50 per hour.

Simpson had been on paid administrative leave since mid-October after a P&Z employee approached Police Chief Al Hogle, who was serving as acting town manager.

“Basically, he advised that he had been the victim of verbal abuse and is being bullied by his supervisor (Simpson),” Hogle’s notes from the incident stated. A second employee confirmed the first employee’s account. Hogle consulted with town attorney David Persson and the town’s labor attorney, H. Reynolds Allen, and brought Police Capt. Bill Tokajer in to interview P&Z employees. At the time Hogle made Simpson a severance offer of three months’ pay — the same amount that she will receive following yesterday’s agreement.

The Longboat Key Town Commission voted 5-2 to remove Hogle from the acting town manager position following his investigation of the incident, with commissioners voicing concerns that Hogle acted too quickly and questioning his decision to use a police captain to conduct interviews.

The town later brought in attorney H. Hamilton “Chip” Rice to conduct an investigation and report back to Interim Town Manger David Bullock. Rice’s investigation included interviews with all town department heads and P&Z employees.

Simpson was hired by the town in October 2001 and earned an annual salary of $104,520.

For more information, pick up a Dec. 8 copy of the Longboat Observer.

Contact Robin Hartill at rhartill@yourobserver.