Although Mayor Alvin Brown’s selection for director of Jacksonville’s Regulatory Compliance Department raised some eyebrows, the City Council supported the mayor’s choice in a vote on April 14. The individual chosen for promotion, Kim Scott, is a thirty-year city employee. Scott has been criticized because of some questionable decisions she made as chief of a code-enforcement agency.
Critics took to social media to voice their concerns about Scott and the agency with which she was affiliated. Over the years, there have been multiple instances of failure to follow federal regulations, and the agency was even cited in 2011 for hiring an unlicensed contractor to demolish a restaurant contaminated by asbestos. Neglecting to follow proper asbestos abatement procedure is especially troubling; if asbestos fibers become airborne, they can be easily inhaled. Numerous respiratory health problems, including mesothelioma, can result from asbestos exposure.
For those aware of Scott’s background, these past infractions created some uneasiness regarding her integrity and her ability to enforce compliance. Councilman Warren Jones, chairman of the Rules Committee, felt that if Scott were given a chance to answer questions and explain herself, the public might see that she is the right person for the job. “[Her critics] need to have a detailed response,” Jones said.
During the City Council’s questioning, Scott had the forum to assuage any concerns, answering the panel’s inquiries for about a half an hour. Mostly, the council members wanted to discuss the demolition of the asbestos-containing restaurant in 2011.
The unusual public response drew the attention of Councilwoman Denise Lee, who told Scott, “You’ve got to be either real good or real bad. This is the first time I’ve heard a director quizzed like this.”
The panel voted unanimously in support of Scott’s promotion.
In her role as Director of Regulatory Compliance, Scott’s duties will include overseeing a department with divisions for the environment, animal care, code compliance, and mosquito control.