Hillsborough County commissioners Wednesday took the difficult but necessary step of firing Administrator Pat Bean but then, incredibly, decided to bring County Attorney Renee Lee back to work.
It was a supremely illogical act. Lee was involved in the same actions for which commissioners fired Bean.
If Bean contests the "with-cause" termination, the commission's decision could jeopardize the county's legal position.
Commissioners Mark Sharpe and Kevin Beckner deserve praise for opposing the curious move.
Both Bean and Lee had been on paid leave since March while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement conducts an investigation of the county.
Bean and Lee both accepted 1 percent raises without commissioners approving the increases as required by the county's charter. This was a key rationale for firing Bean. Yet Lee gave the legal opinion that approved the raises.
Lee also was in the middle of another affair: the collection of e-mails related to the FDLE investigation.
Commissioners should have extended Lee's suspension until the FDLE's investigation is concluded.
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