County puts 3 on paid leave
Friends of former tax collector Greenberg still on Seminole’s payroll
Nearly two months after Joel Greenberg left his post as Seminole County Tax Collector because he was indicted by a federal grand jury, several of his friends and business associates – including a former uncle – continue drawing paychecks from the office, even though some aren’t performing any work.
Acting Tax Collector Cynthia Torres placed three of Greenberg’s top-level hires on paid administrative leave last week and said their employment will officially end on Sept. 26.
A spokesman said the moves are part of a plan to increase efficiency inside the office ahead of November, when a new tax collector will be elected.
Joe Ellicott, who served as a groomsman at Greenberg’s wedding in 2016 and runs a coin collecting business in Maitland, is the highest paid employee placed on leave on July 28 with a salary of $97,248 as assistant deputy tax collector. He was hired by Greenberg in early 2017 as supervisor of facilities.
Robert “Scott” Tomlinson, a longtime friend and business partner of Greenberg, became the office’s special projects technician in April 2017, three months after
Greenberg
Greenberg was sworn in. He was placed on paid administrative leave on the same day and will continue receiving his $35,850 salary and benefits until the end of September.
And Michelle Ertel, who said she became “friendly” with Greenberg when he ran for office in 2016, was also put on leave, but will continue to be paid her $43,480 salary and benefits as the office’s public affairs director until Sept. 26. Greenberg hired her in 2019 to help smooth over his relationship with the Seminole County Commission.
Greenberg often butted heads with county commissioners, and Ertel was well known within the county’s political circles and as someone who had a rapport with Seminole commissioners.
“After he hired me, I got to know him better,” she said. “But we didn’t socialize outside of work.”
Ertel now now works as a Realtor and moved from Seminole to Lake County.
She said in a text message that she has “moved on” from her position with the Tax Collector’s Office.
“I am appreciative of the opportunity that was given to me,” she said.
Ellicott and Tomlinson did not return calls seeking comment.
Torres began a restructuring plan last month that eliminated those high-level positions created by Greenberg in order to create more customer service representatives, said Alan Byrd, spokesman for the office.
Byrd said the employees were placed on paid leave rather than let go to give
Seminole County Tax Collector
them time to find new employment before the end of the county’s budget year on Sept. 30.
“We determined that it would be best during these times to provide them with ample opportunity to find another position instead of ending the relationship immediately,” Byrd said.
A Sentinel investigation last year uncovered that Greenberg doled out $1.9 million in contracts and salaries to friends, business partners, campaign associates and others, including half a dozen people who served in his wedding party, soon after he became tax collector.
Since Greenberg resigned on June 24, Torres has overseen the tax collector’s duties and manages its six branch offices, where customers can renew driver licenses as well as purchase hunting, fishing and concealed weapon permits and pay property taxes.
The day before he resigned, Greenberg was arrested at his home by federal agents and charged with stalking a political opponent and assuming the man’s identity on social media. A few weeks later, a grand jury added additional charges after agents said they found driver’s licenses he stole from his office in his wallet and in a backpack on the day he was arrested. He was charged with six counts that include stalking, identity theft and creating fake IDs from driver’s licenses surrendered by residents.
“As our offices looked to become as efficient as we can for the next tax collector, we are asking the state to move a dozen or so positions into customer service roles at the branches, including these positions,” Byrd said in explaining the reorganization.
Torres, who earns $105,000 a year, was hired in 2007 as a customer service representative by former Tax Collector Ray Valdes. She was promoted by Greenberg to deputy chief administrative officer in 2017 and to deputy tax collector last year. Seminole County Property Appraiser David Johnson, whose office has worked closely with the Tax Collector’s Office, praised Torres for her knowledge and expertise.
“She’s very professional, and we’ve had a very good working relationship over the years,” he said.
A spokesman for Gov. Ron DeSantis said this week that the governor does not plan to appoint a new interim collector before the election, which means Torres will remain at the helm.
Two Republicans are running for the post in the Aug. 18 primary: Brian Beute, the opponent Greenberg
is charged with stalking, and J.R. Kroll. The winner will face Democrat Lynn “Moira” Dictor in the November election.
Richard Sierra, a close friend of Greenberg’s family who was married to Greenberg’s aunt until 2015, has been the Tax Collector’s inhouse lawyer since July 2017 will stay on and continue to earn $149,904 annually. He handles the day-today legal affairs of the office.
The Tax Collector’s Office also has contracted with Gray Robinson law firm since April 2019. Attorney Jason Zimmerman of that firm currently handles legal issues with local governments. In addition, Gray Robinson attorney Brian Bieber, who practices criminal and white collar defense, was brought in February.
In total, the Tax Collector’s Office has paid Gray Robinson nearly $163,000
since July 2019.
Ashley Kohler, who also served as one of Greenberg’s groomsmen, continues to work as the office’s chief information officer, earning $106,632 a year. He’s held that position since January 2017.
E3 Ventures LLC, a company owned by Greenberg’s friend and business partner Ernest Falco III, collected nearly $500,000 in total, including through a subsidiary. Falco’s company was hired in 2017 by Greenberg to provide social media posts, information technology consulting, contract negotiation and other consulting work for the Tax Collector’s Office. That contract with Falco and his companies ended in February, according to records.
Falco could not reached for comment.
In an interview with the Sentinel in October 2019, Greenberg defended hiring many of his close friends, saying that his predecessor, Valdes, had left the office in such disarray and with outdated equipment and technology that he needed people he could trust.
“When we came in, I had to surround myself with people I worked with in the private sector and had great success with,” Greenberg told a Sentinel reporter. “I surrounded myself with people who knew what they were doing, and we’ve had success.”
Greenberg was released from custody while awaiting trial. On July 30, a federal magistrate granted Greenberg’s request to travel outside of Central Florida in August with his wife and two young children for a family vacation. be