The County Record

Martha Black "Missy" Hall, 109, of Bristol, died on Saturday, December 1, 2012 in the Calhoun Liberty Hospital.
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Award winning, local photographer, Phil Coale took these excellent photos. To purchase photos, contact Phil Coale at Tigersports1@live.com or call 850-379-8049. [Full Story »] 

The Calhoun County Commission voted 3-1 this afternoon to terminate Sonny O'Bryan, the former county administrator, grants coordinator and emergency management director.

Last Thursday night, the BCC voted 3-2 to change O'Bryan's title from county administrator to public works director, while also retaining him as emergency management director and grants coordinator. The motion, made by Darrell McDougald, also included cutting O'Bryan back to 31 hours per week and setting his pay at $50,000 for his part-time work.

During this afternoon's regular session, Lee Shelton made the motion to terminate O'Bryan. Assistant County Administrator Joe Wood, who had been hired in 2009 with the understanding O'Bryan was retiring in 2010, along with Assistant Emergency Management Director Angie Smith, were both reportedly being prepared to assume O'Bryan's roles upon his retirement. However, O'Bryan retired for only 30 days and returned to work at full pay with no apparent plan on when he would resume his retirement. O'Bryan reportedly declined the request to complete training Wood and Smith within a 90-day period. He did not attend today's meeting.

Commissioners Lee Lee Brown and Thomas Flowers voted with Shelton. Commissioner McDougald voted against the motion. Commissioner Truman Grant was absent.

During commissioner time at the end of the meeting, McDougald read a resignation letter from O'Bryan. It was reportedly rejected based on the fact he had already been terminated.

Wood and Smith have been promoted to take over O'Bryan's former posts.