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Madeira Beach plans Snack Shack rehab
A consensus was reached at a city workshop to spend $10,000 for a plan
By WAYNE AYERS
Article published on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 |
MADEIRA BEACH – Following an overwhelming referendum approval of the issue, the City Commission took the first steps toward rehabbing the historic log cabin at Archibald Park.
A consensus was reached at the May 6 commission workshop to spend around $10,000 for an architectural plan to bring the structure up to current code requirements.
Interim City Manager Michael Maxemow said the city wants to do the job “as reasonably as possible.”
Speaking to the commission, Maxemow said, “We will have an open shell of a building and then you decide what you want to do with it.”
He described the cabin as being in pretty decent shape, but said it will need some work. Cost is expected to be in the vicinity of $60,000.
When the architectural study is completed, Maxemow said the restoration cost estimates would include air conditioning as an option. He said an open air building with no air conditioning would cost considerably less.
Renovation of the cabin will not begin until August at the earliest, due to time frames involved in creating the building plan and getting competitive bids, Maxemow said.
While the commission is required to take action on the cabin renovation, there is no money in the current year budget to do so. The staff recommendation, following usual procedure, was to take the funds from the contingency account.
Commissioner Nancy Oakley suggested the funds be taken from the salary account, which has a surplus because of the departure of former City Manager Jill Silverboard.
Finance Director Monica Mitchell said that transferring funds between accounts would require writing an ordinance, which would be more time-consuming and costly. A majority of the commission agreed that the staff recommendation to take the funds from the contingency should be followed.
The city is applying for a $100,000 non-matching FRDAP grant for property improvements at Archibald Park, which will include landscaping, shelters and irrigation. No money is currently designated for park improvements, but if the grant fails, landscaping funds will be included in the upcoming year’s budget, Maxemow indicated.
Resident Marilyn McGinty said she wanted to see citizens involved in the plans for Archibald Park.
“I would like a committee to be formed early enough so that it is not just a rubber stamp (decision),” she said.
Mayor Pat Shontz assured McGinty that citizen input would be welcome in the planning process.
Commissioner Steve Kochick pointed out that a meeting was held in May of last year for the public to give ideas on uses for Archibald Park. Those ideas will be relooked at and evaluated, he said.
City manager candidate field is expanded
Four new names were added to the list of candidates for city manager to be interviewed by the commission.
The post has been filled by Maxemow since Jill Silverboard resigned last November.
Maxemow had indicated he is not a candidate for the permanent position, although Commissioner Terry Lister tried to persuade him to reconsider.
Due for interviews in early June are: James Gleason, who has six years experience as a city manager, including three years in Ocoee; W.D. Higginbotham with seven years city manager experience in Florida; Mark Glover, currently interim administrative services director in Casselberry; and James Paros, a 30-year employee of Monroe County in the Florida Keys.
Also under consideration after being interviewed by the previous commission are Madeira Beach fire Chief Derryl O’Neal; Richard Gestrich, who has 20-plus years city manager experience; Therese Leary, who has been city manager of Crystal River and Lake Park; and Carlo Pilgrim, who spent 20 years as a city manager in Maine.
The widened field of candidates with no clear favorite caused former Commissioner Martha Boos to remark, “At this rate, we’re not going to get a city manager before mid-July.”
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Article published on Tuesday, May 13, 2008
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