BELLEAIR BLUFFS – Facing a Nov. 30 deadline, the Belleair Bluffs City Commission failed to approve a fire services agreement with the city of Largo at Monday night’s meeting. Differences over the fire station lease have not been resolved, Mayor Chris Arbutine reported.
At last week’s workshop session, the commission reviewed a copy of the station lease which Largo had returned with substantial revisions after a seven-week delay. The Bluffs commission made changes of its own and sent the lease back.
Arbutine said Largo had not yet signed the station lease agreement, and wanted to separate that issue from approval of the fire suppression agreement. He indicated the Largo City Commission was ready to approve the fire pact at its meeting Tuesday night.
City Attorney Thomas Trask cautioned against separation of the fire suppression pact, where Belleair Bluffs pays Largo for fire services, from the fire station lease, where Belleair Bluffs will receive money from Largo.
“The carrot in getting (Largo) to agree to the lease terms is the $240,000 we will pay them (for fire services),” he said.
The lease situation was also of special concern to Largo fire Chief Michael Wallace.
“We may have to vacate the station if we don’t have the lease signed,” he warned.
Trask said he continues to be frustrated by Largo’s actions regarding the lease. He said the fire suppression agreement and the station lease were submitted to Largo officials on Sept. 16.
“We get the lease back totally rewritten seven weeks later, one business day before the (Nov. 9) commission meeting.”
Arbutine insisted the sides were not far apart on reaching an agreement on the station lease. Wallace confirmed Largo had agreed to Belleair Bluffs’ terms for the station and fire truck rental fees, a major issue, and had agreed to share costs of an air conditioning unit and generator, which was another concern.
Wallace said his department and Belleair Bluffs had worked together this week to take care of a roof leak, which was the Bluffs responsibility, and a water heater breakdown, which was handled by Largo.
“We are doing it every day,” he said, adding, “I hope we can find a way to make (the legal agreement) it work.”
The commission gave Arbutine the authority to hold a meeting with Largo officials later this week, and to sign the fire suppression agreement and station lease “with no substantial changes.”
The vote was 5-0.
Arbutine said following the meeting that he felt confident the fire suppression agreement, including the lease agreement, would get done this week. He said Largo City Manager Mac Craig and their city attorney had indicated to him the issues could be resolved quickly.
The cities are facing a Nov. 30 deadline, which is when the interim agreement expires.
“We will hammer this agreement out in that meeting,” Arbutine promised.
Charter amendments approved
The commission approved a series of amendments to the city charter recommended by the charter review committee.
One, which dealt with a commission member’s qualifications for office, changed a requirement that the mayor and commissioners be a resident of the city to “domiciled in the city.”
Former Commissioner David Shimkus objected to the change, saying that would mean commission members must physically live in the city at all times regardless of circumstances. “What if someone’s house caught fire, and they couldn’t live there?” he asked.
Under the new interpretation, commission members must continue living within the city, renting a place if necessary, attorney Trask had said at a previous meeting. He softened that stance somewhat on Monday night by saying the commission could use common sense in applying the code.
“This still seems a little drastic,” Commissioner Suzy Sofer said. If a tragedy occurred and all the commissioners were displaced, there would be no active commission, she pointed out.
“So (the code change) is a little scary in that respect,” she said.
Charter review board chairman Paul Kuykendall termed the rewording a clarification.
The commission approved the changes, including the residency requirement, in a 4-1 vote, Sofer voting no.
Christmas Party set for Dec. 7
Santa will be there. The popular Salvation Army Brass Band and Indian Rocks Christian School choir will return. And hayrides will again be offered.
The party will be great, as usual, city clerk Debra Sullivan promised.
Tree lighters this year will be Art and Pat Arbutine, who are celebrating 75th birthdays this year. The suggestion was made by the mayor, and enthusiastically endorsed by other commission members.
“Your mom has been extremely engaged in the city,” Commissioner Hunt Brand said.
“A very nice idea,” said Commissioner Jack Nazario.
All residents are invited to the City Hall/Community Center for the festivities, which begin at 6 p.m.
