INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Indian River County Administrator Joe Baird has decided will not be renewing his 3-year contract with the county. Instead, he will retire effective June 30, 2016.
Baird said Tuesday morning prior to the Board of County Commissioners meeting that the time was coming to renew his contract and he wanted to let Commissioners know he wanted to retire.
Baird, 56, has served Indian River County for more than 30 years.
Instead of renewing his existing 3-year contract – which would run through June 2017 – Baird said he would seek a 2-year contract.
He informed the heads of the various county departments during a recent staff meeting, he said.
The County Commission last renewed Baird’s contract in 2011 for a 3-year term. The contract put a limit on his accrued sick and vacation time.
At the time, Baird defended his proposed contract, reminding the board of his past accomplishments of keeping the county running after the hurricanes of 2004, reducing the budget, keeping property taxes low, among others.
“The contract is what you need to get a true professional on the job,” Baird said in 2011, adding, “I run this county” and that he is proud of the job he has been doing.
In the last contract, Baird’s terms of severance had gone from 12 months five. And his termination notice went from 90 days to 30.