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Rettstatt won’t seek re-election
By HARLAN WEIKLE
| Article published on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009 |
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BELLEAIR – Commissioner Karla Rettstatt announced her intention not to seek re-election to the Belleair Commission in March.
Reading from a prepared statement Rettstatt teared up as she thanked the community and those with whom she has served on the town commission.
“I truly feel honored to have been a member of this commission and to have taken part in decisions concerning the town of Belleair,” Rettstatt said.
Rettstatt, who was first elected to the commission in 2006, had previously served on the Planning and Zoning Board and most recently participated as the town liaison with the Recreation Board.
Rettstatt cited her desire to spend more time with her family as her reason not to seek re-election.
Rettstatt’s decision leaves an open seat for the upcoming election; the qualifying period for Belleair’s March elections began Nov. 25 and ends in just two weeks on Dec. 15 at 4 p.m.
Sunshine workshop planned
In an effort to head off more fallout from last month’s Code Enforcement Board meeting in which members of the board allegedly acted contrary to Florida’s Sunshine Law, Town Manager Micah Maxwell informed the commission that the town would hold a two hour Sunshine workshop for town officials Jan. 20 at 6 p.m.
“In taking this action we recognize some fault on the part of the administration in not properly training officials on Florida’s Sunshine laws,” Maxwell said.
Town Attorney David Ottinger followed Maxwell’s announcement with a summary of the event in which he said, “More than one official may have been engaged in inadvertent sidebar discussions.”
Ottinger added that his investigation failed to produce any intentional attempt to thwart the law. “At any rate it appears that conversation was interrupted by the town manager before anything substantive was discussed and therefore I find no violation of the Sunshine Law,” Ottinger concluded.
Maxwell said he plans personally to call each member of the board to apologize for the lack of training.
The board had met in order to assess the extent of town code violations regarding the condition of the roof at the Belleview Biltmore. At one point during the meeting board member Don Newman suggested that if the owners of the Belleview Biltmore, Latitude Management Real Estate Investors, would do something for the town perhaps the town would reciprocate a proposal that would later be characterized as “bribery.”
The code board determined the roof’s condition was a threat to public safety and imposed a fine of $250 per day on LMREI retroactive to Nov. 1 and until the roof could be brought up to code.
On Tuesday the Biltmore’s owners filed an appeal to that decision with the Second Circuit Court. Ottinger said he would determine if the appeal had merit and report his findings to the town commission.
Park usage
Commissioner Stephanie Oddo made an appeal to fellow commissioners on behalf of the community to consider narrowing the town’s public land use descriptions which she said were too broad with respect to protecting public parks from inappropriate use. Oddo referred to the recent installation by town staff of a 15-foot communications tower in a park at the intersections of Rosary and Magnolia roads.
The tower, intended to boost residential electronic meter readings throughout the town to a central, automated receiver, had been authorized by the commission though the appearance and location were never taken under public consideration.
Oddo contends that use should not include anything that deprives the community of a purely park-like space and that such designated open spaces must remain protected.
Mayor Gary Katica questioned Oddo’s rationale asking, “Protected from what?”
Oddo replied that she didn’t have an absolute answer to that but contended that ultimately the public should determine public land use.
Katica responded, “The public doesn’t make those decisions, this board does.”
Town Manager Maxwell intervened by announcing that town staff had reached a compromise of sorts.
“The tower will be removed and a park bench will replace it and we’ll run a conduit up a nearby tree to feed the communication device,” he said.
The commissioners agreed to entertain a review of public land use codes in the near future.
Officials honor memory of resident
Long-time Belleair resident Ed Parker who passed away Nov. 15 was honored with a resolution Tuesday honoring his many contributions to the community and fellow citizens.
Parker, a businessman and successful developer, served on the Town Commission from 1970-72 and as mayor from 1972-76. Parker’s family accepted the resolution.
Football program
Commissioner Rettstatt announced an expansion of the town’s 8 on 8 tackle football program. “We’re expanding from two teams to six this season,” Rettstatt said. “In addition we’ll be hiring high school coaches who know how to teach our boys and for the first time there will be cheerleaders.”
The Belleair Bolts will be overseen by a new League Commissioner, Belleair Police Officer Mike Fritz.
Rettstatt said there will be a first meeting of interested players and their parents Thursday, Dec. 10, 9 p.m., at the Dimmitt Community Center.
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Article published on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009
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