ANNA MARIA – The Island Community Center board of directors on Monday, Nov. 24, named Cindy Thompson as the new executive director.

Thompson, who has been serving as interim director since the departure of Executive Director Dawn Stiles Nov. 14, explained, “I never intended to be a candidate for a permanent executive director position. I was told by the board that I was needed, and when asked to step up, I could not say no.”

The board vote was unanimous and board members were quick to praise Thompson’s quick action as interim director.

“Once Cindy assumed her duties as interim director it became clear to all of us that our best candidate was already on the job, in house, ” Search committee member Jim Froeschle told the board.

Board member Blair Schlossberg pointed out, “Cindy moved quickly and effectively to identify and implement needed financial oversight, while working almost single handedly to fill 130 vacant seats for the recent Murder Mystery event. Due to her efforts the show went on before a full house, which had a great time.”

Search committee member Micheal Coleman said Thompson solved one of Center’s longstanding issues – classrooms without windows and noted, “Cindy is a doer. She just went about making herself the obvious choice.”

Leadership abilities

Board Chair Scott Rudacille pointed to Thompson’s leadership with promoting Island events and as an AMI Chamber of Commerce member, as well as her history of working with children.

“Cindy has a long history of demonstrated leadership in child advocacy, which is critical for this organization,” Rudacille said. “We have personally had our children under Cindy’s care for years, which shows the level of trust we have in her.”

Thompson said she has been committed to the Center since her 20-year-old son was in kindergarten at Anna Maria Elementary. Since joining the board, she has worked to help resolve the financial crisis and identify and recruit potential new board members.

“I feel like I know what is in the hearts and minds of these incredibly competent, committed and active board members, and I feel I am uniquely qualified to carry their mission from the ivory towers of the board room to the people of our community.

“With that kind of synergy I truly believe that together, we can accomplish great things while giving our Community Center back to its people.”

Director’s report

Thompson presented her interim director’s report to the board on Nov. 24 and some of the actions she has taken since Nov. 10 include:

• Identified ways to reduce risk and improve the quality of the child-care program;
• Met with the finance committee to identify immediate ways to reduce the budget;
• Began evaluating marketing strategies;
• Worked with the staff to determine whether systems in place meet the needs of the membership and community;
• Extended the Center’s weekend hours;
• Determined the need for improvements to the field for safety and aesthetic reasons;
• Created the Paul ‘Hayward “Ace” adult soccer championship trophy.

BRADENTON BEACH – The city has received a Notice of Charge of Discrimination from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), according to Mayor Bill Shearon and acting City Clerk Terri Sanclemente.

Shearon confirmed that the notice was received Friday, Nov. 21, and pertained to former City Clerk Gia Lancaster, who was terminated by the city commission in October. Shearon and Sanclemente provided no details as to the specific nature of the EEOC notice.

Shearon forwarded the notice to legal counsel and his fellow commissioners, and public records attorney Mark Barnebey determined the EEOC document to be currently exempt from release to the public.

In response to a records request made by The Sun, Barnebey wrote, “Generally, investigative records made or received by the city are open to public inspection pursuant to Chapter 119, Florida Statutes. There are exceptions based on the allegations contained in certain types of complaints, however. Regarding a possible copy of any requested notice, such notice would be exempt from disclosure under section 119.071and 112.3188 Florida Statutes at this time.”

According to the EEOC website, “It is illegal to discriminate against someone because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. It is also illegal to retaliate against a person because he or she complained about discrimination, filed a charge of discrimination, or participated in an employment discrimination investigation or lawsuit.”

The EEOC website states that a Notice of Charge must be filed before a discrimination lawsuit can be filed.

“You may be asked to try to settle the dispute through mediation. If the case is not sent to mediation or if mediation doesn’t resolve the problem, the charge will be given to an investigator,” the EEOC website states.

“If an investigation finds no violation of the law, you will be given a Notice of Right to Sue. This notice gives you permission to file suit in a court of law. If a violation is found, we will attempt to reach a voluntary settlement with the employer. If we cannot reach a settlement, your case will be referred to our legal staff, who will decide whether or not the agency should file a lawsuit. If we decide not to file a lawsuit, we will give you a Notice of Right to Sue.

“In some cases, we may dismiss the charge without doing an investigation or offering mediation.”

The EEOC website also notes that a Notice of Charge becomes public record if a lawsuit is filed.

Lancaster legal activity

According to a police report dated Oct. 21, Lancaster was arrested in Bradenton for allegedly committing battery on a Bradenton police officer, a third degree felony. The commission was not aware of Lancaster’s arrest when they unanimously agreed to terminate her the following day due to job performance and attendance concerns.

According to supervised release criteria records obtained from the Manatee County Clerk of Circuit Court website, Lancaster had no previous criminal history, and she stated she was on medication for depression. The court records indicate that Lancaster obtained a court-appointed public defender and was granted supervised release.

According to court records dated Oct. 27, Lancaster entered a plea of not guilty and requested a jury trial. Court records also state that on Nov. 7, Lancaster requested the court’s permission to return to her previous home in Titusville.

HOLMES BEACH – City Commissioners last week approved a letter asking the Manatee County Tourist Development Council for $100,000 to build a boardwalk at Grassy Point.

Commissioner Jean Peelen presented the letter and said the city is willing to match the funding and the boardwalk will cost $200,000. It will connect East Bay Drive with Grassy Point.

The letter states that the project would meet the TDC criteria for funding tourism related capital projects including:

• Is it an eligible use of tourism tax proceeds under state law?
• Is the city making an investment in the project?
• Is it in a tourism high impact corridor?
• Will it generate short-term rental nights?
• Will it generate marketplace impressions that will enhance the county’s public relations efforts?
• Is there a similar project in the county?
• Does this project help us diversify our offering the marketplace?

Grant stipulations

The 32-acre environmental preserve on Anna Maria Sound was purchased by the city in 2001with a grant from the state. The grant award included numerous stipulations for what was required that including a boardwalk, observation platform, fishing pier and canoe/kayak launch.

The preserve is located along the east side of Gulf Drive across from Publix and the Anna Maria Island Centre, but is accessed from Avenue C.

It opened to the public in October 2012 with a 1,000-foot nature trail around the upland portion, three picnic tables, an informational kiosk, a bicycle rack and four parking spaces.

The management plan established in 2001 requires the city to provide the additional improvements in 2014-15. The city has provided $25,000 per year for maintenance of the preserve, but has not had the money to fund those additional improvements.

Mayor Bob Johnson will make the presentation at the Dec. 8 TDC meeting, which begins at 9 a.m. in Holmes Beach City Hall.

HOLMES BEACH – Resident Dick Motzer asked city commissioners to do more to address the issue of rental houses in residential neighborhoods that advertise large numbers of bedrooms.

“We appreciate the efforts of the commission in taking the measures that they have in an attempt to curb the blight of overdevelopment in our city,” he said.

“We know that the commission worked long and hard on the changes that have been made to date. However, it is apparent that there are still loopholes and more needs to be done.”

Motzer citied three properties in his neighborhood:

• 211 54th Street with eight bedrooms, six bathrooms and 12 parking spaces;
• 306 56th Street advertising a $51,000 investment income;
• 5501 Holmes Blvd., where a two-bedroom house was torn down, and the site plan shows an eight bedroom, 7 ½ bathroom house with eight parking spaces with a roof height of 39 ½ feet on half the original lot.

Motzer suggested that the city could require property owners in residential areas to reside in their properties for a minimum of four to five months annually and noted, “These are residential areas, not rentadential areas.”

He also asked commissioners to address the problem of “dummy LLCs” and noted, “There is a problem when a person can have almost 100 LLCs to build these mini-motels in our 1.6 square miles of land.”

Chair Judy Titsworth asked him about the eight-bedroom house, and Motzer said he and his wife toured it as potential investors. He said it appeared to be larger than allowed by the living area ratio (LAR) formula, but building department personal said it is within LAR.

She asked him about the house with a roof height of 39 ½ feet, and he said it was on the site plan. She said the maximum height is 36 feet from the crown of the road, and that the city could get an elevation on it.

Titsworth also suggested that the city look into establishing an occupancy maximum in its code.

BRADENTON BEACH – While conducting extensive renovations to two rental cottages, property manager Michael Vinhage was surprised to learn that trash service cannot be temporarily suspended for unoccupied buildings. This provision also applies to homes occupied by seasonal residents.

In September, Bischof Investments LLC received from Waste Pro an $816 annual trash bill for the two units located at 2104 and 2106 Ave. B that were last occupied in January.

Because the contractor doing the renovations is providing a dumpster for construction waste, Vinhage attempted to contact Waste Pro in an effort to have trash services suspended until the renovations are completed early next year.

When his phone and e-mail inquiries to Waste Pro went unanswered, Vinhage asked Building Official Steve Gilbert for an explanation of city policy pertaining to trash collection for unoccupied buildings that are without a current certificate of occupancy,Via e-mail, Gilbert explained that city code requires all improved real property within the city limits to have solid waste collection service. Improved property means all property containing structures that generate or are capable of generating solid waste, recyclables or vegetation waste. Trash service is not required for vacant properties with no structures.

“What this means for you as a property manager is that because the city contracted for sanitation through a franchise award, and those costs are fixed by contract, all properties which are improved are subject to the requirement, whether there is a certificate of occupancy in place or not,” Gilbert explained.

“This covers those times and periods where renovations may be performed while the owners are living there or even where the owners are not living there or even when the building is undergoing significant renovations.

While I fully understand that a number of properties have been vacant due to foreclosures or renovations, the city commission never made any provisions on how to address that circumstance. At this point, you really only have one option, and that is to pay the fees you are being billed for,” Gilbert said.

He also suggested that Vinhage bring Waste Pro’s failure to respond to the attention of the commission.

According to Code Enforcement Officer Gail Garneau, a property owner can seek a suspension of services from the commission, but if commission grants the request the property falls into immediate violation of city code and becomes subject to code enforcement infractions and fines.

Garneau said the mandatory trash service provisions are in place to ensure the uncollected trash does not accumulate and trash is disposed of in a proper fashion.

Gilbert’s explanations did not fully satisfy Vinhage, but he reluctantly paid the Waste Pro bill, a portion of which goes to the city.

Summing up his thoughts on the matter, Vinhage said, “Isn’t it great that they get this money for doing nothing.”

BRADENTON BEACH – For the third consecutive year, Bridge Street and Cortez will be represented at the annual Longboat Key Gourmet Lawn Party.

The culinary celebration takes place Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Resort at Longboat Key Club from noon until 2 p.m.

The fourth annual event offers attendees two hours to sample specialty items provided by nearly 30 restaurants and vendors from Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key, St. Armands Circle and Sarasota. The price of admission also includes craft beer, beer and wine, tea, soda, and other soft drinks.

Participating restaurants from the Island area include the Back Alley, the Bridge Tender Inn, Blue Marlin, Bridge Street Bistro, Island Time, O’Schuck’s, Tyler’s Ice Cream and the Village Idiot Pizzeria.

“On top of helping a good cause, it will be good to see people we haven’t seen in a while, and make them aware of our new chef,” said Bridge Tender manager Shannon Dunnan.

“It will be good to get in touch with the Longboat Key community. We’ve never done anything out there before,” said new Back Alley co-manager Sean Miller.

The Charthouse, Mar Vista, Columbia restaurant, Euphemia Haye, Moore’s Stone Crab and Tommy Bahama’s will be among the Longboat Key and St. Armands favorites on hand.

Island Time and Bridge Street Bistro co-owner Bill Herlihy will again serve as restaurant chair, working with his friend, Michael Garey, who is serving as event chair on behalf of the Longboat Key Kiwanis Club.

Garey owns the Lazy Lobster of Longboat and Kacey’s Seafood & More in Sarasota. Both establishments will participate in the lawn party that serves as the local Kiwanis Club’s largest annual fundraiser.

“Last year we gave away $104,000, and over half of that was raised at this event – $66,000 in scholarships and $38,000 to 13 children’s charitable organizations, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of Manatee and Sarasota counties, Girls Inc., Children First and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation” Garey said.

Garey said reserve seating is sold out and general admission tickets are going fast. Advance tickets can be purchased online for $25 and at the gate for $30.

Five-hundred $100 raffle tickets will be sold, and the holder of the winning ticket will take home $20,000. Additional prizes include a year’s worth of local dining, a vacation package, a golf outing and an NFL/NHL sports getaway.

“You have a one in 500 chance of winning. You might not win $20,000, but the raffle tickets and admission fees support children’s charities and the scholastic endeavors of needy students,” Garey said.

Area vendors and sponsors, including The Sun, are assisting with the fundraising effort.

“In exchange for a little exposure, these community-minded restaurants and businesses are contributing to a great cause,” Garey said.

“This is what the holiday season is all about,” Herlihy added.

“We had zero restaurants from Anna Maria Island three years ago. Bill’s been a driving force in making this happen, and we thank him and all the participating restaurants,” Garey said.

“This brings us exposure to residents of Longboat Key, Sarasota and St Armands, and points them toward the Island,” Herlihy said.

The Resort at Longboat Key Club is located at 220 Sands Point Road. For admission tickets and more information, visit www.lbklawnparty.org. Raffle tickets can be purchased in advance by calling 941-383-0440 or 941-400-8735, and you do not have to be present to win.

HOLMES BEACH – Get in the holiday spirit at a Midtown Holiday Celebration at the Anna Maria Island Centre on East Bay Drive on Thursday, Dec. 11, from 5 to 9 p.m.

“I was talking with John Clark, of AMI Beach Fun, and we wondered why everyone else has a holiday open house and we don’t,” explained organizer Rebecca St. Jean, of Island Mail and More. “He talked to officials at Benderson (the company that owns the shopping center), and they said we could do it, but we’d have to pay for it.”

“We presented it to the other merchants, and most all of them were in favor, so we came up with a game plan,” added Rebecca’s husband, Eric.

That game plan includes the Candy Cane Crawl, in which visitors receive a bingo type card to get stamped by all of the participating merchants.

“The first 50 to complete the card will get a goodie bag with gift certificates, coupons and gifts,” Eric said. “They also can vote for the best decorated store on the card.”

In addition to the Candy Cane Crawl, Santa Claus will be available to listen to wishes and pose for photos, and Lightening Jack will play tropical holiday music on the steel drum. Each participating merchant will offer appetizers and drinks.

“Each store will offer a door prize and at the end of the night, there will be prize raffles,” Eric said and added that winners must be present to claim their prize.

Participants also are encouraged to join the Toys for Tots toy drive by bringing a new unwrapped gift to Walgreens or take a tag off the Giving Tree at Paradise Café and buy gifts for a child in need.