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Transit Authority Job Search Halted In Confusion

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By RICH SHOPES

rshopes@tampatrib.com

Published: November 8, 2008

TAMPA - After spending $4,000 to advertise a job opening, the region's transportation authority decided to pull the plug on the hiring after applicants and authority members expressed confusion about what the job involves.

The ads that appeared two weeks ago in The Tampa Tribune, St. Petersburg Times and on Monster.com described the position as "Special Assistant to the Board" of the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority, or TBARTA.

Among other responsibilities, the winning applicant would talk to local, state and federal officials about the authority's plans to produce a seven-county transportation system.

Cindy Sharpe, a spokeswoman for the authority, said many of the 30 or so applicants thought they were seeking a clerical position, like an executive assistant.

Some of the authority's board members said they thought the job was geared toward lobbying, which is prohibited for authorities receiving public funding.

"Because of the types of letters we were receiving and what we're hearing, obviously we have to clarify what we're doing," Sharpe said.

TBARTA was set to pore over resumes and narrow the list of applicants at its board meeting next week. But because of the confusion, the board now plans to discuss exactly what the position involves and whether to post new ads.

Board members thought the job would focus on lobbying, in part because unless the authority spends a one-time, $2 million state grant by June 2009, it will have to return the money.

The authority wants to persuade state officials to spread out the funding, provided to offset startup costs, over three years instead of one.

"I thought it was a good idea. The $2 million is only good through June 2009," TBARTA member Ronnie Duncan said.

It's unlikely the authority can spend those funds by next summer. So far, it has hired an executive director at $150,000 a year but hasn't decided where else to spend the money and whether to lease office space.

Authority members are trying to come up with a continuous funding source.

Fellow board members Frank Hibbard and Ann Hildebrand both said that they thought the special assistant would focus on lobbying for funds.

"Basically, it's about making contacts, connections, looking at what kind of dollars are available in Washington, the leverage money," Hildebrand said.

Nora Patterson, who proposed the job in a special committee meeting, described the job as "partially lobbying and partially public relations."

Not everybody on the board agreed. Chairman Shelton Quarles said the job is about helping the executive director reach out to the community. Board member Hugh McGuire, a lawyer in Bradenton, said that it is a public relations position aimed at telling citizens TBARTA's plans.

Not much else is known about the job. It expires June 30, 2009, but it is unclear how much it pays and whether it is a full- or part-time position.

Reporter Rich Shopes can be reached at (813) 259-7633.

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