New city commission reports for duty
By HARLAN WEIKLE
Article published on Wednesday, March 26, 2008  |
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| Photo by HARLAN WEIKLE |
| From left, Mayor-elect R.B. Johnson and commissioners-elect Cookie Kennedy and Dan Torres are sworn in by Circuit Court Judge George M. Jirotka. |
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INDIAN ROCKS BEACH – The city of Indian Rocks Beach has a new city commission, mayor and city attorney, but the old issues remain as IRB prepares to grapple with the specter of budget cuts forced by Amendment 1, increasing demand for more and better public services, development and a improved public demeanor.
Outgoing Mayor Bill Ockunzzi called Tuesday’s commission meeting to order just past 7 p.m. Speaking in a voice moderated by years on the dais, Ockunzzi said of the outgoing board, which included his sometimes nemesis and constant budget watchdog, Commissioner Jose Coppen, “I think we did some good things for the taxpayers and over the years, some good things for the city. I’m very happy to have served and I will look back with nothing but good memories. Thank you.”
With that the commission adjourned for the last time. A short ceremony followed as newly elected Mayor R.B. Johnson along with Commissioners-elect Joanne “Cookie” Kennedy and Dan Torres were duly sworn in by guest jurist, Circuit Court Judge George Jirotka.
The first order of business for the new commission was to appoint a vice mayor; nominated by Kennedy, Terry Hamilton Wollin received 4 of 4 votes. Commissioner Bert Valery was absent, but had e-mailed his preference for Wollin’s selection if not his vote to City Attorney Maura Kiefer, who made Valery’s preference known for the record. The action seemed to signify a determination by the board that this commission would be defined by collegiality and cooperation, a refrain repeated often by candidates as well as voters in the days leading up to the election.
But even before the first unanimous vote of the new commission could be cast, signs that this commission would not necessarily inherit a pass on many of the problems that persistently plagued the previous commission were becoming apparent.
Audience comments Tuesday suggested that issues regarding city boundaries, past city managers, disregard for election rules and accusations of misconduct by elected officials will once again hamper the commission’s ability to expeditiously conduct the business of the city. At least one exchange between audience members prompted Johnson, who had been mayor less than an hour, to admonish the gathering, reminding them that respect for one another was no less vital to the democratic process than mutual respect on the dais.
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Article published on Wednesday, March 26, 2008
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