Sebring council picks Polatty for P&Z

By a 4-1 vote, former Highlands County Development Services Director James M. "Jim" Polatty Jr., was appointed by the Sebring City Council and will start work on Monday, Nov. 23 as the city's new planning and zoning director.

Councilman John Clark cast the dissenting vote, stating that in the present economic climate he did not believe the city needed to fill this new position that will cost Sebring taxpayers about $90,000 per year including benefits.

Polatty's base salary will be $65,000.

After the meeting Polatty said the new position is a lot like the positions he's had in his career.

"I appreciate the fact that they appointed me," said Polatty. "I look forward to serving the city council, the city administrator and the citizens of Sebring."

He liked the fact that this job is on a "smaller scale" as positions he has held.

"Even though I live in the county I've worked in the city, my kids went to school in the city and we attend church in the city," he said.

"It would be an honor to be an employee of the city of Sebring," Polatty wrote in a letter to Charlotte Mann, the city's human resources officer. "Because Sebring has been my home for the last 15 years, I will take great pride in working for this community."

During the meeting, Sebring Mayor George Hensley told the council he felt this was a good time to hire a planner and not wait for a better future time when it would be more difficult to find qualified applicants.

"Staff spent significant amounts of time checking his background," he said.

City resident Preston Colby asked the council to do more extensive background checks, stating his dealings with Polatty had been "contentious and acrimonious."

Colby made certain allegations regarding Polatty while he worked at the county and referenced a pending lawsuit filed in January by Colby over public records.

Council members discussed a probationary period for all new hires.

"I personally think a person is innocent until proven guilty," said Councilwoman Margie Rhoades, who saw no need to delay the vote.

After the meeting Polatty told Highlands Today there was no truth to Colby's statements to the city council.

Polatty is a retired U.S. Army sergeant and holds master's degrees in planning and public administration.

Forty-eight applicants applied for the position, but not all were qualified, said Mayor Hensley. That number was then short-listed to five. By that time two of the applicants had already found employment, leaving only three to interview, Hensley said.