Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority CEO Brad Miller’s job is on the line. Miller was ranked below average by 10 of 15 board members.
Despite the poor performance, the board isn’t making a move to get rid of the controversial leader. During a committee meeting Monday, Dunedin Mayor Julie Ward Bujalski made a motion to fire Miller, but it failed for lack of a second.
According to WTSP, whose coverage of PSTA has been historically critical of the agency and its leadership, particularly Miller, Pinellas County Commissioner Janet Long gave Miller one of the lowest rankings. But even she hesitated to make a move to fire him.
Instead the committee recommended the board reevaluate Miller’s performance in six months. A decision about his fate could come at that time. The full board will decide whether to accept that recommendation at its meeting on September 30.
Miller has been the center of several controversies including one launched by WTSP uncovering an ad paid for through a Homeland Security grant that failed to include required safety messages. Instead the ad promoted the failed Greenlight Pinellas plan that would have funded sweeping improvements and a massive funding increase for the agency.
The investigation continued and later showed emails indicating Miller’s misuse of the funds was intentional. Other complaints involve mismanagement of fleet maintainence and failing to bring in a state grant that would have studied a popular proposed bus rapid transit route in St. Pete.
It’s widely speculated that Florida lawmakers failed to fund the Central Avenue Bus Rapid Transit study because Miller continued to head the agency. Insider speculation holds that lawmakers may be more willing to fund such studies if Miller is out.
If that is true, it puts a lot of pressure on board members to seek a change in leadership.
Miller was hired as the head of PSTA in July of 2011. Shortly after he heralded the launch of the Central Avenue Beach Trolley. He was considered a good hire at the time. Controversy didn’t erupt until the Greenlight Pinellas Campaign reached full steam.
