The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper

Vol. 14 No. 37 - July 9, 2014

headlines

Fewer illegal fireworks light AMI beaches
Carol Whitmore

HBPD | SUBMITTED

These were some of the 200 pounds of illegal fireworks
confiscated by the Holmes Beach Police Department.

ANNA MARIA – A portable roadside sign flashed its message last week that fireworks would be confiscated might have convinced some people to forego their own fireworks and watch the shows at the BeachHouse restaurant on Thursday, July 3 and the Sandbar on the Fourth of July.

Sgt. Paul Davis, head of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office in Anna Maria reported hearing fewer amateur fireworks this year than last.

“Our complaints were way down from last year,” he said. “Our campaign to stop illegal fireworks worked very well.”

Davis said people from nearby states who usually visit here during the Fourth of July holiday got wind of the crackdown.

“We had people calling us before they came down to ask about enforcement,” he said. “It appears the information got out to a number of people.”

Holmes Beach confiscates

Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said they confiscated approximately 200 pounds of fireworks over the holiday.

“Things went pretty well,” he said. “We were out on the beach and answering complaints and the signs about fireworks being illegal brought the issue to the attention of everyone.”

Tokajer said they wanted to make sure the holiday was as safe as could be.

“It’s dangerous when you shoot off fireworks in a big crowd,” he said. “If something goes wrong, you could hurt a lot of people.”

Overall, Holmes Beach Police issued 91 parking tickets, six alcohol violations, four traffic tickets and they answered 11 fireworks complaints. There were seven arrests made: two for battery, one traffic arrest, two larceny arrests one warrant arrest one narcotics arrest.

Bradenton Beach quiet

The Bradenton Beach Police Department was fully staffed during Thursday night, when the BeachHouse restaurant held its fireworks show, according to Sgt. Lenard Diaz. He said they had their hands full with crowd and traffic control before and after the show.

“There were no major problems,” Diaz said Monday. “There were no arrests, and we did not confiscate fireworks.”

The majority of the action was on the beach, Diaz said.

Down to the wire

Chiles Group owner Ed Chiles said the two shows went as planned and it appears more people are watching, not participating.

“I noticed it seemed quieter on the beach,” he said. “There seemed to be fewer big displays.”

Chiles said in the past when someone near the Sandbar was shooting off a lot of fireworks, he would delay his show until they were done.

As for the shows this year, he was happy to see two tight programs and they dodged a bullet during the BeachHouse show when they went ahead with fireworks with a storm offshore and approaching. The rain came as the show was ending.

“As usual, there’s no place in America like Anna Maria Island for celebrating the Fourth of July,” he said.

Now THAT was a big parade

They came by ship to take over the Island, their cannons blazing, with fire in their eyes and rum on their breath.

The Anna Maria Island Privateers were celebrating the nation’s birthday with a string of people behind them, throwing beads and waving.

It was an annual invasion and no prisoners were taken, although some 13 students took home treasure to help pay for their educations.

This year’s Fourth of July Parade was a long one, with an estimated record 157 cars, trucks and other conveyances. It broke the previous record of 148, according to Privateer Tim "Hammer" Thompson.

The parade began at 10 a.m. Friday from Coquina Beach and traveled north to Bayfront Park. A long line of festively decorated vehicles and riders followed, taking two hours to reach their destination. The motif of the day was red, white and blue.

“The parade route was packed the entire seven miles,” Thompson said in an e-mail. “I would guess it was in excess of 35,000 folks waving and cheering and chanting, ‘USA, USA, USA.’”

Being a Privateer can take a toll, especially when a lawsuit that they lost drained them of the money they usually spend on scholarships. They had to hustle to get the money to pay for at least the nine students whose scholarships they renewed because when you win a scholarship from these men and women, you get subsequent annual scholarships as long as you keep your grades up. They had enough money left over to pay for four new students.

The recipients gathered at the Anna Maria Island Beach Café for the presentation. They were treated to lunch while the Privateers and friends ordered food from the café.

Before the presentation, outgoing Privateers' President Mary Ann “Maz” Zyla-Smith thanked the crowd for coming and introduced the incoming president, Bob “Stitch” Dominas. She noted she was the first female president of the group, which has expanded its female membership over the past few years.

After the Privateers handed out the scholarships, the students boarded the ship Skullywag, and they and the Privateers posed for photos.

Congestion committee to present parking plan
Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

Pat Copeland | Sun

Rather than act on a suggestion from Holmes
Beach Commissioner Marvin Grossman to direct
drivers traveling south out of Anna Maria to use
Gulf Drive, city officials have opted to erect
this sign. Congestion committee members said
it is not getting a lot of usage yet, and the city
should encourage more people to use it.

HOLMES BEACH – Congestion committee members said they would move forward on presenting their plan for banning parking on residential streets to city commissioners at the July 22 work session.

“Seventy-five percent of my neighbors are in favor of the proposal,” member Jayne Christenson said and added that she met individually with each city commissioner and four out of five support the plan.

The exceptions to the plan are Key Royale and beach accesses.

Resident Melissa Snyder said she supports the plan and pointed out, “Every other county in the state has paid parking. We should get a percentage of parking at the Manatee Beach.

“We pay more taxes than anyone else, and we are not getting out fair share back.”

Christenson said they should implement their plan first because if there is paid parking at the public beach, “it will push them into our neighborhoods.”

Resident Blair Schlossberg said parking tickets should be more expensive, and Christenson said she thinks the amount is regulated by the state.

Chair Carol Soustek said one suggestion would be to issue tickets every two hours.

Resident Alex Richardson said he also supports the plan.

Limiting access

However, Maureen Shuman disagreed and said, “All county residents pay taxes for the beach, and you’re talking about limiting the access. I really struggle with telling them they can’t park (without paying).

“I am opposed to limiting parking in residential areas. By doing that you’re impacting the residents on those streets.”

Member Ursula Stemm responded, “There’s lots of parking. We’re saying as residents we have the right to quiet peace in our blocks.”

“We’re seeing the tip of the iceberg with all the building planned in the county,” member Pam Leckie added.

If the parking plan is not accepted, “What other options do we have to create safer environments in our residential neighborhoods?” Christenson asked.

She said options could include no parking during certain hours or no parking west of Gulf Drive. Soustek said another option is permit only parking.

Beach renourishment parking

Members also discussed whether the plan would affect the requirement that the city have a certain number of parking spaces in order to receive beach renourishment funding.

Soustek said she had two pages from a county study that list streets in Anna Maria and Holmes Beach and how many parking spaces there are on each.

“I have never heard that street parking is included for beach renourishment, but according to this we have two glaring areas – 49th and 50th streets,” she said and added that the city has increased parking spaces since the study was completed.

In addition, members said the numbers of spaces listed on some streets are not accurate.

“We need to get clarification from whoever did this survey,” Christenson added.

Members agreed to ask someone from the county to their next meeting to answer questions including:

• How many parking spaces does the city need to offer the public?
• Where are the parking spaces?
• What is the formula for determining the number of parking spaces?
• If there is an inaccuracy, how can it be corrected?
The next meeting was set for Monday, July 21, at 9:30 a.m.

Change continues in clerk’s office

joe hendricks | sun

Acting Bradenton Beach City Clerk Tammy
Johnson has tendered her resignation

BRADENTON BEACH – The shake up inside the Bradenton Beach clerk’s office continues.

On Monday morning, former Administrative Assistant Terri Sanclemente returned to her former workplace, having been rehired as an independent contractor, working on a six-month contract approved by the city commission last week.

On Thursday, Deputy Clerk and acting City Clerk Tammy Johnson tendered her resignation, effective at week’s end, however, she will be on the payroll until Aug. 22 due to vacation and personal time.

In her letter of resignation, Johnson said, “I have decided to pursue other opportunities.”

In a letter to Johnson accepting her resignation, Mayor Bill Shearon thanked her for her service to the city and said, “Being a deputy clerk and administrative assistant to the city clerk, you have always responded to any request or need that I have brought to your attention, especially during the challenging and short-handed transition periods. Thank you for being a team player.”

These events transpired three weeks after former City Clerk Jamie Anderson was dismissed on June 12.

The search for a new city clerk continues, and Sanclemente, although not a certified clerk, will help hold down the fort until a certified city clerk is hired.

Sanclemente’s first tenure with the city began in 2006 and ended in 2012. Her duties included transcribing meeting minutes, handling e-mail for the mayor and commissioners, updating the city website, and assisting with payroll and accounts payable.

Working as an independent contractor, Sanclemente will be paid $17 an hour with no employee benefits. During last week’s commission meeting, Shearon told the commission Sanclemente’s long-term hope is to remain with the city on a permanent basis with full benefits and employee rights.

Before her rehiring, Sanclemente worked as a rental agent with Payless Car Rental in Bradenton, dating back to January 2012.

Efforts are now underway to provide Sanclemente with temporary help after Johnson’s tenure with the city concludes on Friday.

Johnson has worked for the city for the past two years. She was named clerk pro tem after Anderson’s recent dismissal. She held a similar position in between the terms of Anderson and former City Clerk Nora Idso.

New vice mayor named

joe hendricks | sun

As of Friday, the Linger Longer resort at 302 Gulf Drive South
was still operating without a state-issued public lodging license.

BRADENTON BEACH – Jack Clarke is the new vice mayor of Bradenton Beach.

During last week’s meeting, commissioners revisited the December appointment of Janie Robertson in an effort to correct a past procedural error, while also addressing a potential Sunshine Law violation alleged by attorney Robert Lincoln.

Robertson remains a member of the commission, and alleged Sunshine violations aside, has been accused of no wrongdoing.

At a Dec. 5 meeting, Shearon included Robertson’s appointment as vice mayor in his list of liaison appointments, which the commission approved unanimously.

It turns out that the vice mayor’s appointment should have been handled as a separate agenda item, with a vote taking place based on nominations made by commission members.

Violations alleged

Acting on behalf of Ed Chiles and ELRA Inc., Lincoln said Sunshine violations took place when the mayor directly e-mailed commissioners inquiring about their interests in serving as vice mayor and/or commission liaisons to other government and community organizations. Lincoln believes these communications constitute a Sunshine violation.

Last month, Lincoln alleged additional Sunshine violations pertaining to Shearon and Robertson’s e-mail correspondence regarding revisions to the city’ special event permitting process.

Until last week’s meeting, the commission never addressed the Sunshine concerns. At the request of City Attorney Ricinda Perry, Lincoln discussed these matters with commissioners at the July 3 meeting.

Lincoln told the commission he and his client preferred to avoid any additional legal action pertaining to the alleged Sunshine violations, and he suggested all commission e-mails be sent through the city clerk’s office to prevent future violations.

“That may seem like a small thing, but it’s actually very important,” he said, also sharing his belief that no one on the commission acted in “bad faith.”

In regard to the appointment of a vice mayor, Commissioner Ed Straight acknowledged that previous commissions made the same procedural error. He then suggested correcting the error now that the commission was aware of it.

Clarke supported this idea and noted that the city charter requires the appointment of vice mayor to be handled as a stand-alone appointment, based on commission nominations..

Perry told the commission they could address the reappointment of a vice mayor immediately or wait until the July 17 meeting.

Appointed

Participating via Skype video communication software, Commissioner Jan Vosburgh, who is vacationing in Utah, expressed her desire to address the matter immediately. She then nominated Clarke to serve as vice mayor.

After expressing her view that the vice mayor’s title is mostly honorary and ceremonial, Robertson nominated Vosburgh because she is the commission’s longest serving member. Vosburgh declined the nomination, and Clarke was unanimously appointed vice mayor.

“Congratulations and condolences,” Shearon said in jest. Laughter also ensued when Robertson handed Clarke the city-issued cell phone assigned to the vice mayor.

Although referred to as “ceremonial,” by Robertson, the position comes with specific responsibilities. If the mayor becomes incapacitated, the vice mayor becomes the acting mayor. The vice mayor is also asked to represent the city at meetings and events the mayor cannot attend.

After the meeting, Clarke, who took office in November, addressed his new role.

“I accept the responsibility enthusiastically, and I’m looking forward to it,” he said.

Standing outside city hall, Robertson said she was glad to be relieved of the responsibilities.

“That’s fine with me. I did not enjoy that position at all. I don’t like carrying that phone around, and I’m very glad to hand that over. I won’t miss being on call the whole time and being called in at the last minute,” she said.

She did, however, question whether any political maneuvering took place in advance.

“I do have some thoughts about how it all came about so fast. It was obviously orchestrated. When you use attorneys as go-betweens to set something up like that, I question it, but I’m not going to pursue it.”

Center to present budget to community

ANNA MARIA – The Island Community Center board of directors will hold its second public meeting on Monday, July 14, at 6:30 p.m. to present the 2014-15 budget, growth strategy and new board members to the community and respond to questions.

Executive Director Dawn Stiles said the board met on Tuesday, July 1, to approve the budget, which shows revenue of $981,047 and expenses of 937,138, for a net gain of $43,909.

Budget figures are as follows:

Revenue: building fund, $1,503; donations, $171,018; Island cities funding, $38,883; county funding, $83,029; grans/designated, $$53,630; United way, $13,152;memberships, $90,925; adult programs, $$44,717;sports programs, $82,521;sumer camps, $44,849;ten program, $21,528; TLC (after school care), $49,283;therapy, $11,000; Tour of Homes, $$39,032; Affaire, $148,605;O’Connor Challenge/blood drive, $11,745;murder mystery, $15, 141;golf tourney, $26,634; other special events, $22,769; concessions/rentals, $7,560;interest and dividends, $18; and miscellaneous, $2,50.

Expenses: salaries, $434,001; employee enhancement, $133; payroll taxes/worker’s comp, $48,406; employee benefits (health/401K/dues), $33,196; liability insurance, $39,434; audit/bookkeeping, $29,496; bank charges, $12,316; auto expenses, $8,938; PR/ marketing, $2,191;Web/social media, $6,898; travel/meals, $393;therapy supplies, $1,227;office expenses, $15,572;utilities, $34, 675; summer camp, $8,663; maintenance, $25, 468;TLC, $4,137; teen program, $25,900; adult program, $7,241; sports programs, $49,907;Tour of Homes, $4,690; Affaire to Remember, $30,000;murder mystery, $5,228;golf tourney, $8,849;o’Connoer Challenge/other special events, $34,896;concession/rentals, $291; and mortgage interest, $64,992.

The budget also shows debt service of $38,990 and capital expenses of $4,700.

In addition, board members approved seven new members – Ed Chiles, Micheal Coleman, Rex Hagen, Gail Janczewski, Diana McManaway, Mike Selby and David Welch. Current board members are Jason Sato, Scott Rudacille, Erin Heckler, Cindy Thompson, David Teitelbaum and Blair Schlossberg.

This brings the number of board members to 13 with 17 allowed according to the bylaws. The board will continue to take applications for the four open positions.

Visiting youth holds center fund-raiser

submitted

Destiny got the idea for her fund-raiser from this display at Gordon’s market.

ANNA MARIA – Destiny Shepperson, 10, who is visiting her grandmother, Roser Church Administrator Bev Shepperson, for a month this summer has been enjoying her time at the Island Community Center so much that she decided to hold a fund-raiser for it.

“I went to Gordon’s Market and saw a fund-raiser,” Destiny explained. “I thought about the Community Center and remembered that they need help with money.”

Destiny said she told Education Director Kathy Bogat about her idea, and Bogat checked with Executive Director Dawn Stiles, who approved it.

“I was so happy when I found out I get to help the Community Center and help all the little kids have somewhere to go and have fun while their parent are at work. I’m gonna call it the Chocolate Fund-raiser.”

Destiny is selling chocolate and candy such as Hersheys, Snickers, Reeses, Skittles and M&Ms for $1 per item. All profits go to the Center.

Any business or organization willing to place boxes of candy in their establishment or anyone who would like to purchase candy can e-mail Destiny at movingmtns@aol.com or call her at 517-285-8119.

Decibel levels still in question

HOLMES BEACH – When they couldn’t agree on a decibel level for their new draft noise ordinance, Police Chief Bill Tokajer suggested that city commissioners take a field trip to the Barefoot Tiki Bar and then to homes on Flotilla Drive.

“Me giving you a decibel number doesn’t tell you how loud it is,” he pointed out, adding that when he measured it at 60 at the bar, it was 50 at the gazebo in the field by Flotilla Drive.

Resident Dick Motzer agreed and said, “You have no idea what 65 sound like. Have the chief set up a boom box and a decibel meter and listen to it.”

For months, the city has been working with Tiki Bar owners Nicole Heslop and Jon Westergard to find an acceptable level of sound for bands to play in the outdoor venue. Residents on Flotilla Drive have said the sound is coming into their homes and disturbing the neighborhood.

Chair Judy Titsworth said they should keep the same levels as the current ordinance in which the levels are measured at the receiving land use and are 60 decibels from 7 a. m. to 10 p.m. and 55 from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. weekdays and 55 on weekdays and holidays from 10 p.m. to 10 a.m.

In the draft ordinance, the levels are measured from the property line of where the sound is being generated, and are 65 decibels from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and 50 between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.


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