Nassau Insider
Sabrina Robertson
February 8, 2017 7:37 p.m.
On Wednesday, January 18, 2017, the Board of County Commissioners recognized County Manager Ted Selby on his upcoming retirement after eighteen years of service with Nassau County.
Ted Selby began his employment with Nassau County on September 28, 1998 as an Internal Auditor for the Clerk of Courts. During his eight years of employment with the Clerk, he also served as Budget Supervisor and Financial Services Director. Ted was hired by the Board of County Commissioners on January 23, 2006 as the Administrative Services Director where his duties included overseeing fiscal operations including preparation of the annual budget and enforcement of internal auditing controls. Ted was always willing to go above and beyond the call of duty and he served as Interim County Administrator on two different occasions; once from March 1, 2007 to October 8, 2007 and again from April 10, 2010 through June 1, 2010 when he was hired for the position of County Manager.
During his time as County Manager, Ted always searched for ways to make the County more efficient and often analyzed departments and policies to find cost saving measures. He revised the Employee Leave Policy where new hires were placed on a “Paid Time Off” plan instead of a traditional Vacation/Sick Plan, thus drastically reducing the number of hours accumulated annually. He revised County policies including the travel policy and eliminated mileage reimbursements for employees choosing to take their own vehicles to classes and conferences. He is also credited for adoption of a Fleet Replacement Program which consists of long-term planning for maintaining and replacing vehicles when needed. These are just a few examples of Ted’s ability to plan for future stability of the County.
Chairman Danny Leeper expressed his gratitude to Ted for serving the County with the highest of integrity and for having the foresight needed to achieve many great things. Under Ted’s leadership, the County has received numerous awards including the Florida Animal Control Association’s Agency of the Year Award and the Regional Award for Excellence in Affordable Housing from the Northeast Florida Regional Council. Major projects completed during his tenure include expansion of the Fernandina Beach Library, construction of the Emergency Operations Center, the addition of the 911 Communications Center, and construction of the new Sheriff Administration Facility. Chairman Leeper stated, “You are the best manager I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. You leave behind a great team and that is a sign of great leadership”. The other four commissioners echoed Chairman Leeper’s comments and agreed that Ted has been an outstanding asset to the County and has provided exemplary service to the citizens.
Ted has been a humble leader who sincerely cares about his staff and he is widely recognized throughout the County organization for his honesty, integrity and leadership ability. During the January 18th meeting, several employees came forward to express their gratitude to Ted.
Public Works Director, Scott Herring, stated “I don’t say this lightly, you were the best boss I ever had. The confidence you’ve shown in me, the mentorship… the past seven years have been wonderful and I appreciate everything you’ve done for me”.
Assistant County Manager, Shanea Jones, said “I’m really just grateful for all the patience you’ve had with me and all the opportunities you’ve given me. You deserve to retire and do something enjoyable”.
Ted thanked the Board and all the previous Commissioners for providing him with the opportunity to be the County Manager. “It has certainly been challenging at times, but at the end of the day, it was very rewarding. I appreciate the support you’ve given me and the trust you’ve placed in me to lead this organization”. Ted also thanked his wife, Bunny, for being with him “every step of the way” through two careers which included 22 years of service in the United States Navy. “I’ve been paying into social security since 1966 and it’s time for me to get something out of it”, joked Ted.
Ted’s last day of employment is Friday, February 3, 2017. He will be greatly missed by those who had the honor to work with him, as well of the citizens of Nassau County. We wish Ted many years of health and happiness and extend our congratulations on his retirement.
Editor’s Note: Ted Selby’s tenure as county manager will set the standard for exemplary service as a county manager for years to come. Full disclosure: I have known Ted since returning to my hometown of Fernandina Beach 20 years ago, and I have the utmost respect for him.
The mark of a true leader is one who is able to inspire others to reach their full potential. Those of us who have watched Shanea Jones, Ted’s successor, during difficult budget proceedings know Nassau County is in good hands. She is knows the budget, she is good, and she learned a lot working with Ted. We wish her well.
Thank you Ted for your service, and our best wishes to you for a happy, well deserved retirement. You will be missed!
Thank you for your steady leadership Ted.