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Lack of quorum delays action in Belleair Shore
By DAVE SHELTON
Article published on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 |
BELLEAIR SHORE – Only the mayor and one town commissioner were available for the Belleiar Shore Commission’s regularly scheduled meeting on June 18.
Mayor John Robertson said important business would be put off until the next regular commission meeting scheduled for July 16. He canceled the June meeting after learning commissioners Ray Piscitelli, Robert E. Schmidt Jr. and Richard Jordan weren’t available, making a quorum impossible.
But, as the elected officials traveled out of town, progress is moving ahead on two major issues facing the town, Robertson said. He said the town’s special magistrate has filed his ruling. The magistrate, James L. Yacavone, has ruled that Rhonda Hogan, of Tampa, has violated town codes that bar short-term home rentals.
During a code enforcement hearing last month Hogan admitted that she had allowed advertising for her home to appear on the Internet, offering it for rentals of less than 30 days.
Neighbors have complained about noise, litter and parking of too many cars at Hogan’s house at 1280 Gulf Blvd. and another house in the town. She said she had sold the house and would no longer seek its rental.
In his ruling Yacavone gave Hogan until June 20 to end advertising and rental of the house or face daily fines of up to $250.
Another home subject to code enforcement action is at 980 Gulf Blvd. Robertson said City Attorney John Elias has continued negotiations with the owner of that home, William Lowe, of Scotland. The mayor said he thought an agreement to halt rental of that home may be reached so that legal action won’t be needed.
Other business pending in the town is introduction of a new budget for next year. Robertson said each commissioner has a copy of a budget prepared by the mayor. He said they were each instructed to review it and bring questions or suggestions to the next commission meeting.
Robertson said the new budget may increase only a couple hundred dollars if there is any increase at all over last year’s $90,000 budget, the lowest among Pinellas County municipalities. Last month the mayor announced that property values among this small town’s multi-million-dollar homes has slipped less than real estate in other parts of Pinellas County.
This would help the town maintain a low property tax assessment and keep it from having to make any budget cuts new state laws are mandating in other municipalities.
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Article published on Wednesday, June 25, 2008
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