ANNA MARIA – Country roads are taking City Commissioner Joe Muscatello home.
“I’m going back,” Muscatello said as he presented the mayor and commissioners with parting gifts bearing the likeness of his home state, West Virginia, during his final commission meeting on Thursday, June 24.
“First of all, I want to say I’m not dying and Missy and I are not getting a divorce,” he quipped. Muscatello and his wife, Mellissa, have bought a bed and breakfast in Shepherdstown – a university town located about 75 miles northwest of Washington D.C.
“I don’t drink coffee, I hate eggs and I don’t get up early either, so it may be a bed and lunch,” Muscatello joked.
City officials affectionately said farewell to Muscatello, whose term was scheduled to expire after the November city elections are certified until he announced his early departure.
After good-heartedly teasing Muscatello about his abbreviated 18-month term in office, Mayor Dan Murphy presented him with a commemorative wooden plaque and thanked him for his service to the city.
“We’re sad to see you go, but I understand life transitions are important,” Commission Chair Carol Carter added.
“It’s been a great 18 months,” said Muscatello, before asking Administrative Assistant Stephanie Janney to play a recording of John Denver’s “Take Me Home Country Roads” – a song that references West Virginia, where he was born and raised.
“It’s a beautiful state and I do hope you’ll visit,” Muscatello said before asking those in the room to join him in singing the familiar chorus: “Country roads, take me home, to the place I belong, West Virginia, mountain mama, take me home, country roads…”
“I love all of you,” he said. “Thank you all.”
Applications open for vacant seat
The city of Anna Maria is now accepting applications to fill the vacant seat.
Tuesday, July 6 is the deadline to apply to serve the remainder of Muscatello’s current term. The commission plans to appoint his short-term successor on Thursday, July 8. The application form is available at the city website or the city clerk’s office.
If so desired, the commission appointee can seek election to a full two-year term during the upcoming city elections. The two-week qualifying period for the Anna Maria elections opens at noon on Monday, Aug. 16 and closes at noon on Friday, Aug. 27. Qualifying paperwork can be obtained from the city clerk’s office or the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections office.
During Thursday’s meeting, the commission discussed whether to fill the short-term vacancy or allow the vacant seat to remain vacant until after the city elections. Murphy recommended filling the vacancy as soon as possible and the commission voted 5-0 to do so.
“We have some very heavy duty topics and issues to solve between now and November and the (elected) commissioner would not be seated until December,” Murphy said.
The mayor noted the commission must soon discuss and make decisions regarding the “Reimagining Pine Avenue” study and the proposed solutions that stem from that study. The commission must also engage in further discussion regarding the planned expenditure of approximately $370,000 in American Rescue Plan funds, and the commission must soon help develop the city budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year that begins Oct 1.
Murphy said he’s concerned that a four-member commission could potentially lead to 2-2 tie votes.
“There’s a potential for deadlocks. Deadlocks would lead to gridlock,” he said. “If we fill this vacancy through an appointment, then you’d have to have an election in November anyway.”
Former City Commissioner Doug Copeland attended Thursday’s meeting and his presence was noted during the commission discussion.
“I’m aware of a very good, experienced, competent candidate who’s actually in the chamber today. I think it would help us address the weighty issues on the table. I can’t imagine someone in our populace more capable of stepping in immediately,” Commissioner Jon Crane said without mentioning Copeland by name.
Crane asked City Attorney Becky Vose if an appointment could be made without first advertising the vacancy and allowing others to apply.
In response, Vose said, “I would highly recommend that you have a public announcement. That person (Copeland) can respond and probably would get picked, but I would not shortcut the process. You could decide tonight to have an announcement made tomorrow. I’m uncomfortable recommending that you subvert the process completely.”
As he’s done previously, Muscatello, who was appointed himself, reiterated his overall desire that commissioners be elected rather than appointed whenever possible. Last year, Deanie Sebring was appointed to fulfill the commission seat vacated by Amy Tripp. Crane ran unopposed for his current term and Commissioner Mark Short was appointed to his first term in office before running unopposed last year.
After the meeting, Copeland said he would submit his application Friday morning. He feels his past experience as a commissioner and a Planning and Zoning Board member would benefit the city in the short term, but he was non-committal about running for a full two-year term later this year. Copeland did not seek reelection in 2019.
