Agenda 03/25/2025 Item #16F 1 (Confirm James French as Growth Management & Community Development Department Head, Trinity Scott as Transportation Management Services Department Head, James W. DeLony as Interim Public Utilities Department Hea (2)SEE REVERSE SIDE
Proposed Agenda Changes
Board of County Commissioners Meeting
March 25, 2025
Move item 16F1 to 11C: Recommendation to confirm James French as Growth Management & Community
Development Department Head, Trinity Scott as Transportation Management Services Department Head, James W.
DeLony as Interim Public Utilities Department Head, and Edward Finn as Deputy County Manager, to take effect
immediately, and approve all necessary Budget Amendments (Commissioner McDaniel’s and Commissioner Hall’s
Separate Requests)
Continue item 16B6 to the April 8, 2025, BCC Meeting: Recommendation to approve Amendment No. 5 to
Lease Agreement No. 4600003056 ("Agreement No. 5") with South Florida Water Management District
to continue leasing office space for Collier County located at 2660 Horseshoe Drive North, suite 105, for
an additional five years, with two optional three-year renewals, and adjust the annual rental amount in
accordance with the existing 2.5% escalation clause. (Staff’s Requests)
Notes: In the executive summary, items 17A and 17B incorrectly refer to their companion items as 11A and 11B.
The correct companion items should be 17A and 17B.
TIME CERTAIN ITEMS:
3/24/2025 7:41 PM
3/25/2025
Item # 16.F.1
ID# 2025-1075
Executive Summary
Recommendation to confirm James French as Growth Management & Community Development Department Head,
Trinity Scott as Transportation Management Services Department Head, James W. DeLony as Interim Public Utilities
Department Head, and Edward Finn as Deputy County Manager, to take effect immediately, and approve all necessary
Budget Amendments.
OBJECTIVE: For the Board to confirm permanent appointments for Deputy County Manager, the Department Heads
of the Growth Management & Community Development Department, and the Transportation Management Services
Department, as well as approve the appointment of an Interim Department Head for the Public Utilities Department.
CONSIDERATIONS: On June 28, 2022, the Board of County Commissioners (Board) entered a contract with Amy
Patterson as County Manager. Under Ordinance 2013-40, the Collier County Administrator’s Ordinance, the County
Manager is responsible for the administration of all departments under the jurisdiction of the Board, including the
selection, employment, and supervision of all personnel and the filling of all vacancies, except that the employment of a
Deputy County Manager or Department Head requires confirmation by the Board.
On February 8, 2022, the Board confirmed the appointment of Mr. French as Interim Department Head for the Growth
Management & Community Development Department and Ms. Scott as Interim Department Head for the Transportation
Management Services Department. On July 12, 2022, the Board confirmed Mr. Finn as Interim Deputy County
Manager.
The County Manager requests the Board’s confirmation to transition the following interim roles into permanent
appointments, effective immediately.
• Edward (Ed) Finn, as Deputy County Manager
• James (Jamie) French, as Growth Management & Community Development Department Head
• Trinity Scott, Transportation Management Services Department Head
The Deputy County Manager assists the County Manager in overseeing county government operations, ensuring
efficient service delivery, and implementing policies set by the Board of County Commissioners. Mr. Finn has served
as Interim Deputy County Manager since July 12, 2022. His diverse skill set, extensive management experience, proven
leadership, and substantial knowledge of Collier County make him exceptionally qualified for this role. As part of the
County Manager’s strategic initiatives, senior leadership will focus on key priorities, including ResourceX resource
prioritization and process improvement, enhancing strategic planning, infrastructure and government facilities planning
and maintenance, and advancing financial strategy.
Mr. French has served as Interim Department Head for the County’s Growth Management & Community Development
Department (GMCDD) since February 8, 2022. In 2022, GMCDD was comprised of five divisions with a total of 287
positions. In 2023, Conservation Collier and Housing Policy & Economic Development were added under his oversight.
Further expanding his responsibilities, Domestic Animal Services with 37 FTEs was added in late 2024. In 2025, Parks
& Recreation, including the Sports Complex, were assigned to him, bringing approximately 237 additional positions
under his leadership.
Ms. Scott has served as Interim Department Head for the Transportation Management Services Department (TMSD)
since February 8, 2022. In 2022, TMSD was comprised of four divisions with 282 positions, along with oversight of
Transportation, Stormwater, and Beach capital programs. In late 2024, her responsibilities expanded to include the Real
Property Section, the Sea Turtle Monitoring program, and the Countywide Capital Grant Program. These additions
brought approximately 15 more positions under her leadership, along with responsibility for the County’s Real Property
functions and approximately $300 million in capital grants under management.
Adjustments to Mr. French's and Ms. Scott’s compensation, reflecting the added duties and responsibilities, will be
made consistent with CMA 5341, Compensation Administration.
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Item # 16.F.1
ID# 2025-1075
Lastly, on March 14, 2025, Dr. Yilmaz, the Public Utilities Department Head, confirmed his resignation with an
effective date of April 4, 2025. We will conduct a nationwide search to fill this position on a permanent basis. While we
engage in the search process to ensure continuity of critical public utilities services, we are seeking Board confirmation
for the appointment of James W. DeLony as Interim Public Utilities Department Head.
Throughout his distinguished career, Mr. DeLony has held numerous senior leadership and management command
positions. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Operations for the DynCorp International LOGCAP IV contract,
overseeing international project management and comprehensive logistics services for the U.S. Army in Southwest Asia.
Before this role, he was the Public Utilities Administrator (Department Head) for Collier County, Florida. In this
capacity, Mr. DeLony led a workforce of 400 personnel, operated and maintained infrastructure valued at over
$1.1billion, and executed an annual operating budget of $88 million and an annual capital budget of $50 million.
His military career includes key leadership assignments, such as Wilmington District Engineer and Commander in North
Carolina; Director of the Public Works Business Center at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; and Commander of the 326th
Engineer Battalion, 101st Airborne Division, also at Fort Campbell.
Additionally, he served as the Director of Operations and War Plans Officer for the XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg,
North Carolina, as well as the Brigade S3 and Assistant Corps Engineer for the 20th Engineer Brigade (Combat)
(Airborne). His other assignments include Deputy Commander of the Savannah District Corps of Engineers and
Assistant Area Engineer for the Lafayette Area Office in the New Orleans District.
Mr. DeLony has been a registered Professional Engineer in Florida, Louisiana, and Virginia.
Mr. Finn, Mr. French, Ms. Scott, and Mr. DeLony have extensive experience, proven leadership skills, demonstrated
management abilities, expertise in their field, and a knowledge of County operations and personnel, which make each of
them uniquely qualified to fill these positions.
This item is consistent with the Collier County Strategic Plan Strategic Focus on Quality of Place, Infrastructure and
Asset Management, Community Development, and Responsible Governance.
FISCAL IMPACT: The Deputy County Manager will continue to receive an annual salary of $215,759.25. Reflecting
additional assigned responsibility, the Growth Management & Community Development Department Head’s salary will
be $203,406 and the Transportation Management Services Department Head’s salary will be $193,883. The Interim
Public Utilities Department Head will receive a salary of $203,406.
Personal services budgets will be reviewed for any necessary adjustments, with existing appropriations reallocated as
needed.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: There is no growth management impact associated with this action.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been reviewed by the County Attorney. Given the attached opinion of
the State of Florida Commission on Ethics, this item raises no legal issues and requires majority vote for approval. -
JAK
RECOMMENDATIONS: To confirm James French as Growth Management & Community Development Department
Head, Trinity Scott as Transportation Management Services Department Head, James W. DeLony as Interim Public
Utilities Department Head, and Edward Finn as Deputy County Manager, with all appointments taking effect
immediately, and approve all necessary Budget Amendments.
PREPARED BY: Amy Patterson, County Manager
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Item # 16.F.1
ID# 2025-1075
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Commission on Ethics Letter - December 2024
Page 2960 of 5415
Luis M. Fusté
Chair
Paul D. Bain
Dr. James Bush, III
Tina Descovich
Freddie Figgers
Laird A. Lile
Ashley Lukis
Linda Stewart
State of Florida
COMMISSION ON ETHICS
P.O. Drawer 15709
Tallahassee, Florida 32317-5709
325 John Knox Road
Building E, Suite 200
Tallahassee, Florida 32303
"A Public Office is a Public Trust"
Kerrie J. Stillman
Executive Director
Steven J. Zuilkowski
Deputy Executive Director/
General Counsel
(850) 488-7864 Phone
(850) 488-3077 (FAX)
www.ethics.state.fl.us
______________________________________________________________________
December 2, 2024
Ms. Amy Patterson
Transmitted via email to: Amy.Patterson@colliercountyfl.gov
Re: Your Ethics Inquiry
Dear Ms. Patterson:
This is in response to your above-referenced inquiry in which you, the County Manager for
Collider County, inquire whether you will be in violation of the anti-nepotism law—Section
112.3135, Florida Statutes—were your husband, an executive-level employee within the County,
to receive an increase in pay. You indicate the County has recently reorganized its divisions and
moved several divisions and sections to other County Departments. You state this reorganization
has increased the responsibilities of the County's three Departments—which are (1) the Growth
Management, Community Development Department (GMCDD); (2) the Transportation
Management Services Department (TMSD); and (3) the Public Utilities Department (PUD).
You relate each Department Head is intended to receive a proportionate special pay adjustment
to compensate for the increased responsibilities within their respective departments.
You indicate your husband is the Department Head of the GMCDD, and that his pay increase
will equate to 8%. Apparently the Department Head of the TMSD will be receiving a 4%
increase while the Department Head of the PUD will be receiving a 2% increase, although you
relate the GMCDD is assuming more new responsibilities than the other Departments.
You also indicate the pay adjustment being proposed for your husband—as well as for the other
Department Heads—complies with the County's official practices and procedures, and that it will
not increase his job grade level/classification, alter his job title, and or affect his status within the
Florida Retirement System.
Section 112.3135(2)(a), Florida Statutes, the anti-nepotism law, states:
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Ms. Amy Patterson
December 2, 2024
Page 2
RESTRICTION ON EMPLOYMENT OR REATLIVES. --
A public official may not appoint, employ, promote, or advance, or
advocate for appointment, employment, promotion, or
advancement, in or to a position in the agency in which the official
is serving or over which the official exercises jurisdiction or
control any individual who is a relative of the public official. An
individual may not be appointed, employed, promoted, or
advanced in or to a position in an agency if such appointment,
employment, promotion, or advancement has been advocated by a
public official, serving in or exercising jurisdiction or control over
the agency, who is a relative of the individual.
Among other things, the provision prohibits a "public official"1 from promoting or advancing, or
advocating for the promotion or advancement, of a relative, a term which is defined to include
one's spouse. See Section 112.3135(1)(d), Florida Statutes. The question then becomes whether
increasing the pay of your husband, given the increased responsibilities of his Department, can
be considered a promotion or advancement under the statute.
In Slaughter v. City of Jacksonville, 338 So. 2d 902 (Fla. 1st DCA 1976), the terms "promotion"
or "advancement" were found to correspond to "an increase in grade which elevates an employee
to a higher rank or position of greater personal dignity or importance." The Commission has
found that attaining a position of "greater personal dignity or importance" implies some factor—
such as an increase in pay, an increase in title, or an increase in duties and responsibilities—that
heightens the individual's stature within the agency itself. See CEO 13-7.2 However, the
Commission has also found that pay increases that do not move a relative into a higher civil
service grade—and that stay within the maximum and minimum limits for his or her current
service grade—do not constitute a prohibited "promotion" or "advancement." See CEO 19-24.
Here, the responsibilities for your husband's Department are increasing, but he already occupies
the highest position within the Department as it Departmental head. In other words, as you
indicate, the increase in responsibilities will not affect this job title. Even more importantly,
given the reasoning in CEO 19-24, the pay increase will not affect his job grade level or
1 Section 112.3135(1)(c), Florida Statutes, defines a "public official" to mean:
an officer, including a member of the Legislature, the Governor, and
a member of the Cabinet, or an employee of an agency in whom is
vested the authority by law, rule, or regulation, or to whom the
authority has been delegated, to appoint, employ, promote, or
advance individuals or to recommend individuals for appointment,
employment, promotion, or advancement in connection with
employment in an agency[.]
2 The Commission opinions and statutes cited herein are available at www.ethics.state.fl.us.
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Ms. Amy Patterson
December 2, 2024
Page 3
classification, and will not elevate his status within the Florida Retirement System. Considering
this, and assuming the pay increase occurs as you describe, it does not appear that the increase
will elevate him to a position of "greater personal dignity or importance," and, therefore, will not
constitute a prohibited "promotion" or "advancement" under Section 112.3135(2)(a).
That being said, please note this analysis pertains only to the specific question of whether you
will be in violation of Section 112.3135(2)(a) were your husband to receive this pay increase.
Your inquiry does not mention any facts regarding your role in reorganizing the duties of the
County Department Heads—a decision that apparently led to the possibility of your husband
receiving a pay increase—and this letter offers no opinion in that regard. Please note, though,
the prohibitions in Article II, Section 8(h)(2), Florida Constitution,3 and Sections 112.313(6),4
Florida Statutes, do apply to your past and future conduct as a County Manager.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have further questions concerning these issues.
Sincerely,
Gray Schafer
Gray Schafer
Assistant General Counsel
Florida Commission on Ethics
(850)-488-7864
3 Article II, Section 8(h)(2), Florida Constitution, states:
A public officer or public employee shall not abuse his or her
position in order to obtain a disproportionate benefit for himself or
herself; his or her spouse, children, or employer; or for any business
with which he or she contracts; in which he or she is an officer, a
partner, a director, or a proprietor; or in which he or she owns an
interest.
4 Section 112.313(6), Florida Statutes, states, in relevant part:
No public officer, employee of an agency, or local government
attorney shall corruptly use or attempt to use his or her official
position or any property or resources which may be within his or her
trust, or perform his or her official duties, to secure a special
privilege, benefit, or exemption for himself, herself, or others.
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