County terminates SCAT director

After less than two years on the job, Sarasota County administrators have fired Sarasota County Area Transit Director Glama Carter.

Carter will receive salary and benefits for four weeks from Friday, and officials did not cite a reason for her termination. Director of Community and Intergovernmental Relations Rob Lewis will take over in the interim.

On her most recent evaluation in November, Assistant County Administrator Mark Cunningham said Carter “is dependable and reliable, and takes pleasure in completing assigned tasks and projects in a timely manner.” Cunningham gave Carter a 4 on a grading scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest score, and she received a 3% pay increase following the evaluation.

Carter, who left her position as public transit manager for Collier County in 2012, led the organization during sweeping changes that included new routes, buses and shelters. SCAT recently underwent an evaluation that found the public transit system’s fixed-route services were on par with 11 comparable counties, and commissioners have been mulling proposals to privatize the organization.

Former County Administrator Randall Reid hired Carter, who made $103,000 annually.

There are roughly 140 at-will employees within county, whose “employment may be ended at the will of either the employee or the county,” said county spokeswoman Jamie Carson.

For previous stories about SCAT see:

+ SCAT racks up unclaimed bicycles left on buses
+ SCAT rolls out new routes, buses and mobile site
+ City stakes claim to bus station land