BRADENTON BEACH – Longtime Bradenton Beach Code Enforcement Officer Gail Garneau is retiring at the end of the month, with July 31 being her final day.
On behalf of the city and the city commission, Mayor John Chappie and City Clerk Terri Sanclemente honored Garneau with a proclamation and a bouquet of red roses during the Thursday, July 16 commission meeting.
After inviting Garneau to come forward, Chappie read the proclamation aloud.
“Whereas Gail Garneau has submitted her resignation as code enforcement officer; Whereas Gail Garneau has served as a code enforcement officer for 15 years; Whereas Gail Garneau served with such dedication and devotion to her position of code enforcement officer; Whereas Gail Garneau remained unselfishly dedicated to her position and her performance of her duties as a code enforcement officer; Now, therefore, we the municipal council of the city of Bradenton Beach, do hereby commend Gail Garneau for her excellent record of service as the code enforcement officer and extend the thanks of the citizens of the city of Bradenton Beach for a job well done,” Chappie said.
“Thank you, Gail,” Chappie added before giving her a socially distanced air-hug.
“It’s a wonderful farewell and I thank you very much. It’s been a pleasure working for the city and this is a new chapter in my life,” Garneau said.
She said her arrival with the city was similar to longtime Building Official Steve Gilbert’s arrival in 2007, when he thought he was starting a temporary two-week assignment.
“Like Steve, I started here 15 years ago, and it was only in a temporary position for a couple weeks. Fifteen years later, I’m still here. I’m looking forward to trying something different, like sleeping in, and I’ll miss everyone that I’ve worked with all these years,” Garneau said.
“You’re part of our family and we greatly appreciate it,” Chappie said.
“It makes me cry to think you’re going to be leaving us,” Commissioner Jan Vosburgh said. “You’re such a big part of the city. You’ve been absolutely wonderful.”
Garneau thanked Vosburgh and said she’s looking forward to following city matters without a code enforcement officer emblem on her shirt.
Participating by phone, Commissioner Ralph Cole said, “Thank you very much for your service.” Cole extended his wife, Beth’s, thanks as well.
Later that day, Garneau provided via email some additional thoughts on her retirement.
“My 15 years working as the code enforcement officer for Bradenton Beach has been a challenging and rewarding period in my career. I have been working in the legal field for 45 years now and it’s time now to retire from this type of work and concentrate on the next chapter in my life. It has gone by fast. I am looking forward to traveling when the opportunities arise,” she wrote. “I offer my thanks to my colleagues for their support. And what’s more, I’ve come to regard those I work with as almost a second family. I also want to thank the community of Bradenton Beach, and I count myself lucky to have served the residents and business owners during my tenure. I have made a lot of friends in Bradenton Beach and look forward to spending more relaxing time in the city.”
Successor sought
Later in the meeting, the commission authorized the advertising for a new code enforcement officer to serve as Garneau’s successor. Chappie said the position pays between $32,704 and $49,000 annually, depending on experience, and requires a 40-hour workweek. Chappie said Gilbert and City Attorney Ricinda Perry would help craft the advertisement and Gilbert would interview the applicants.
