DNJ Posted April 19, 2011 Share #1 Posted April 19, 2011 By TED JACKOVICS | The Tampa Tribune Published: April 18, 2011 TAMPA - The region's bus authority has a temporary new leader after the HART board voted late Monday to fire chief executive David Armijo without cause. Armijo said he would meet this morning with his attorney to decide what to do next. He left little doubt he planned to sue the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority. "The board made its decision in an absence of facts and evidence," Armijo said. HART chief operating officer Philip Hale will take over the 750-employee county bus system that Armijo led to record ridership. The 7-4 vote came in a stunningly swift motion at the end of a four and a half hour meeting. A previous motion to keep him aboard on 90 days probation died on a 5-6 vote. Board members David Mechanik, Michael York, Sandra Murman, Mark Sharpe, Kevin Beckner, Wallace Bowers and Alison Hewitt voted to fire Armijo. Board members Fran Davin, Steven Polzin, Ron Govin and John Byczek opposed the motion. Details of the allegations and identities of the complainants who filed their challengers under HART's whistleblower act remained undisclosed, despite efforts of several of the HART board members to get them released. The board had hired a law firm to explore allegations that Armijo retaliated against a handful of high-ranking employees who disagreed with him and claims Armijo improperly misused travel funds that amounted to less than $200. Board members said there was no reason to terminate Armijo for cause and there was no evidence he had violated the law. "The process was manipulated by a number of people who provided no evidence," Armijo said. Armijo was employed under a contract that expires Sept. 30, 2012, and paid $185,338 in salary, along with opportunities for merit increases and performance bonuses. According to the terms of his contract, Armijo will receive 180 days of severance pay, plus payment for medical and life insurance premiums. HART under Armijo has reported record ridership in recent months, with March the 13th consecutive month of 1 million-plus passengers. However, HART faces immediate challenges with possible operational budget shortfalls of $3.2 million in fiscal 2012 and $5.9 million for fiscal 2013 under current plans that are under staff review to find ways to balance the budgets. Expenses are expected to rise from a current $2.30 a gallon for diesel fuel that HART arranged for its fiscal 2011 budget to facing diesel fuel prices the federal government predicts could reach $3.37 a gallon over the next two years. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.