The passage of the Holmes Beach charter amendment creating a human resource analyst as a charter position may have unwittingly been filled without fair opportunity.
Mary Buonagura holds the title, but the path that landed her there may have been a shortcut, subject to criteria used for other full-time hires.
Buonagura was hired on a temporary contract in March 2013 by then-Holmes Beach Mayor Carmel Monti to perform human resource work for the city and other duties as he determined.
The six-month contract expired in August 2013, when commissioners extended the contract. Buonagura was hired as a full-time employee by Monti, and approved by the commission in March.
Her contract salary was $2,500 a month without benefits. Her salary as employee includes benefits.
At the time of her March 2013 contract, Monti said he reserved the right to hire Buonagura without having to undergo the typical hiring process that calls for a request for proposal, and to take applications for the job.
“She’s not a department head,” he said. “If this was a department head position, then we would have to go through that process, but I’m authorized to make this decision on my own,” he told the Islander in March 2013.
The charter amendment passed in the Nov. 4 election guarantees a human resource analyst on city staff a department head position.
According to the city’s employee handbook — written by Buonagura and approved by commissioners Sept. 23 —open positions must be advertised in local papers for a “stipulated period of time based upon the position to be filled.”
New hire rules also require the human resource analyst to accept applications for a month following the first date of advertising and conduct interviews by a team of city employees chosen by the human resource analyst.
The handbook further states, in accordance with the city charter, the mayor offers employment to positions outlined in the city charter, to be ratified by the commission.
Mayor Bob Johnson said he does not intend to advertise the position. Buonagura’s position became a charter position the same day Johnson took office.
According to the charter, the human resource analyst handles:
• Employee staffing.
• Employee recruitment and assimilation.
• Employee performance reviews and oversight of termination.
• Advocates and offers counseling for employees.
• Administers professional training and other human resource-related services by direction of the mayor, the charter or commission resolution.
The charter further states the human resource analyst must have “demonstrated, direct experience and capabilities” to be considered for the position.
According to Buonagura’s resume, she holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of New Orleans and a master’s degree in theological studies from Virginia Theological Seminary.
Employers prior to the city included the Center for Spiritual Development for the Christ Episcopal Church of Bradenton and the Episcopal Church Against Human Trafficking for the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida of Sarasota, according to Buonagura’s resume.
At Christ Episcopal, she worked as a bereavement, premarital and substance abuse counselor, and advocated for those needing assistance with Social Security, the Florida Division of Children and Family Services and Veterans Affairs.
For the Episcopal Diocese, she worked as a business consultant and grant writer.
Buonagura resides in her Holmes Beach family home, built by her father in the 1940s.