The Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization is asking the U.S. Coast Guard to reduce the frequency of drawbridge openings in Manatee and Sarasota counties to alleviate traffic congestion year around.

In a resolution passed on Monday, the MPO noted that “the delays on the roads serving the island communities… are no longer seasonal in nature.”

The Coast Guard has the final say on the issue.

Drawbridge openings are one of several issues to be included in a regional barrier island traffic study being developed by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), along with traffic light timing, pedestrian controls and turn lanes, among other issues.

Bill Hattaway, FDOT’s District 1 secretary, met with local officials in Cortez last week to discuss the study, which will focus on improving transportation between the island communities of Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key and Lido Key, and the mainland communities of Bradenton and Sarasota.

“They want to do a comprehensive analysis of island to mainland traffic,” Longboat Key Town Manager Dave Bullock said.

Suggested by Longboat Key Mayor Jack Duncan in response to pleas from residents who said they feel trapped in their homes by traffic congestion, the study’s parameters may be unveiled at the July MPO meeting, FDOT spokesman Robin Stublen said.

HOLMES BEACH – Officials discussed ways to reduce the number of vehicles on the islands at last week’s meeting of island elected officials.

Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said he has spoken with Manatee County Administrator Ed Hunzeker about a water taxi and “marketing it to people who work on the Island. It would have to be subsidized by the county to make it viable because you have to make it cheap for people who work.”

He said the city is seeking providers who might be interested.

Bradenton Beach Mayor Jack Clarke said he also has been considering a water taxi from the city’s pier and has spoken to two independent operators.

“We have the ability on our pier for water taxis to dock there on a temporary basis,” he explained. “One has a three stop plan and one has a five stop plan.

“This is not for employees, but to bring tourists and mitigate the impact of cars. I see this as viable, but as a private initiative rather than county subsidized.”

“This region is in a traffic nightmare,” Longboat Key Mayor Jack Duncan declared. “We have to find a better way to attack the problem and create a regional strategy.”

ULI study

Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson said encouraging alternate forms of transportation is part of the initial report made by Urban Land Institute with recommendations for the three Island cities. The ULI provides guidance to communities in addressing problems associated with land use, development and growth.

Holmes Beach Commissioner Carol Soustek asked how Longboat Key implemented the recommendations in its ULI study.

“When we got the results, we were prepared to move forward with a couple of things,” Longboat Key Mayor Jack Duncan replied. “We immediately identified the low hanging fruit and said we could implement some of those quickly.”

He said then they began planning for the long-term projects and advised, “It’s a process. You have to get the report and strategize how you’re going to implement it.”

Murphy pointed out that the mayors have begun to look at some of the elements, but don’t have the final report yet.

Duncan said one mistake Longboat Key officials made was to have too many people on their ULI implementation committee as well as citizens who did not understand the ramifications and politics of the process. He advised Island officials to keep the group small and comprised of people who can make decisions.

ANNA MARIA – The head of the city’s Sheriff’s Office substation is offering his head in a fund-raiser for a local child fighting cancer.

Sgt. Paul Davis’ campaign is called “Give a shave for Gianna,” and the lucky ticketholder will get to shave his head.

“Gianna Lesselroth is a 3-year-old girl with acute lymphoblastic leukemia,” he explained. “Her fight has now taken her to Boston for a yearlong treatment. Insurance will not cover family expenses of flights to and from Boston, subway fares/car rentals, food, etc.”

He said he thought of sports teams that support a teammate with cancer, who has lost his/her hair from chemotherapy, by shaving their heads and his fundraiser was born.

Last year Davis took the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and raised more than $1,200 and noted, “We raised this money for people we did not know, but wanted to help. This is a local family we are trying to help now.

“Without it, Gianna will spend much of the next year alone in a hospital. A 3-year-old girl suffering with this cancer far from home and alone is too much for me, and I hope it is too much for many others.”

Ticket donations are $1 each, 30 for $20 or 100 for $50 and 100 percent will go to the family. Tickets are available at Anna Maria City Hall at 10005 Gulf Drive. Checks can be made payable to the Manatee Sunrise Kiwanis Foundation.

The drawing for the lucky winner and the shave will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 17, at Anna Maria City Hall.

The Holmes Beach Police Department believes with the cancelation of the fireworks at the Beach House restaurant in Bradenton Beach on July 3 there will be an increased number of residents and visitors in Holmes Beach on July 4th for the fireworks display at the Sandbar restaurant in Anna Maria.

For that reason it will have an increased presence with extra officers working the holiday weekend paying close attention to alcohol violations, fireworks violations, parking violations and traffic concerns.

According to the Holmes Beach city ordinance, fireworks are prohibited. Fireworks are defined in Florida State Statute as exploding, launching or projectile fireworks, and they are Illegal. Illegal fireworks will be seized, and a violation will be issued to anyone who possesses them.

Sky lanterns also are prohibited under Florida State Statute. Those wishing to light up the 4th of July celebration may use sparklers, smoke devices, party poppers, snappers and snakes, which are permitted. Children should be supervised at all times.

In addition, consumption and/or possession of alcohol on all the beaches is prohibited as well as open fires are on the beach. Remember it is turtle and bird hatching season on the beach so please do not disturb the turtles or the nesting birds.

Drivers are advised of street closures between 9 a.m. and noon for the Privateer’s July 4 parade.

BRADENTON BEACH – As part of the ongoing Save the Trolley - Giving Back grant program, the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce partnered with Manatee County to distribute more than $50,000 to local organizations Thursday night.

“What we’ve given away in grants in last year and half are from funds collected from 2011 to 2014. In the last year and a half, a little more than $140,000 have been given to Island non-profits and not for profits,” said Chamber Vice President Terri Kinder.

The grants are made possible by excess revenue generated by the advertisements that grace the free Anna Maria Island Trolley operated jointly by the county and the Chamber.

“The advertisers on the trolleys are how this happens. That’s how we keep the trolleys free and that’s how we collect the funds to give back,” Kinder said. “A committee reviews the applications and makes a determination as to who we feel would benefit most from receiving the grants. Not that everyone that applies gets them.”

Last week’s recipients included All Island Denominations, AMI Community Center, AMI Concert Chorus & Orchestra, AMI Elementary PTO, AMI Art League, AMI Historical Society, AMI Preservation Trust, the Artists’ Guild of AMI, the Bridge Street Merchants, Florida Maritime Museum, Friends of the Island Library, Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria, Moonracer No Kill Animal Rescue, Roser AID Food Pantry, Stephen Ministry of Roser Memorial, West Bradenton Crime Watch and Wildlife, Inc.

The awards ceremony took place at the Tortuga Inn Beach Resort in Bradenton Beach.

file photo

The Code Enforcement Board case regarding
the tree house in
Holmes Beach began nearly two years ago.

HOLMES BEACH – The Second District Court of Appeal has denied an appeal of a judge’s ruling upholding the Code Enforcement Board’s 2013 order regarding the tree house on the beach in front of Angelino’s Sea Lodge.

David Levin, attorney for tree house owners Lynn Tran and Richard Hazen, filed the appeal after Circuit Judge Janette Dunnigan’s ruling last fall. The one word denial gave no reason for the ruling, which is not final until the time expires to file a rehearing motion on June 29.

Attorney responds

Levin responded to the denial in an e-mail, “It is unknown why the Florida District Court of Appeal, Second District, denied the Hazen’s challenge of the Circuit Court’s decision upholding the Code Enforcement Board’s order. Without writing an opinion explaining the basis for its action, it would be mere speculation as to how the Court of Appeal viewed our case.

“In Hazen’s petition to the Court of Appeal, a number of important legal issues were raised. Among these were whether the city’s coastal construction regulations can conflict with those of the state, and under what circumstances does the doctrine of equitable estoppel apply to the enforcement of an alleged local code violation.

“It is likely that in denying the Hazen’s petition, the Court of Appeal may have misinterpreted existing law on these matters. Without a written opinion, however, we do not know. If the court had misinterpreted existing law, or made its determination in a manner contrary to existing law, that could be grounds for the court to reconsider its decision, or at least to render a written opinion so that the Hazens could seek review by the Florida Supreme Court. “

Levin said the Hazens would be filing a motion for rehearing.

City’s case

Following the ruling, City Attorney Patricia Petruff said in a memo to Mayor Bob Johnson, “I have asked (attorney) Jim Dye to write a memo outlining the steps that need to be taken to bring the property into compliance and close the file.”

The case began in July 2013 when Code Enforcement Board members found Tran and Hazen in violation of the land development code and ordered them to remove the violations or demolish the tree house by Aug. 28, 2013. The city said the tree house was constructed without a permit and encroached into the erosion control line

In September 2013, Code Enforcement Board members imposed a fine of $100 per day on Tran and Hazen for failure to comply.

The couple appealed both the order and the fine, and in March 2014, they were granted a stay from the code enforcement board’s order imposing the fine. However, in September 2014, Dunnigan upheld the board’s original order to remove the violations or demolish the tree house.

joe hendricks | sun

The city commission appointed Terri Sanclemente
to the city clerk’s position on June 4.

BRADENTON BEACH – City Clerk Terri Sanclemente and other city officials dispute Commissioner Janie Robertson’s recent claim that Sanclemente was fired during her previous stint with the city.

In a newspaper story that appeared last week, Robertson claimed Sanclemente was fired by Deputy Clerk Karen Cervetto in 2012 while longtime Clerk Nora Idso was out sick. She also claimed Idso supported the firing.

In regard to Sanclemente being appointed city clerk, Robertson was quoted as saying she was “grossly un-credentialed.”

Sanclemente returned to the city as a contracted clerk’s assistant in July 2014 and was named clerk pro tempore when former Clerk Gia Lancaster was fired in October. That temporary title was removed on June 4, when Mayor Jack Clarke and Commissioners Ed Straight, Jan Vosburgh and John Shaughnessy unanimously appointed Sanclemente as city clerk.

Robertson did not attend that meeting, nor did she offer any preliminary objection to an appointment that was noticed in advance.

Clerk responds

“As far as me being fired, that’s wrong. I resigned, and I’ve never been fired from any job,” Sanclemente said. “Karen had no input on my staying or going. Karen was not acting clerk when I left. I handed my resignation letter to Nora.”

Sanclemente referred to the resignation letter in her personnel file and memos Idso wrote regarding her pending resignation.

On May 7, 2012, Idso wrote a letter of recommendation that said Sanclemente had been with the city for five and a half years and was qualified to perform numerous clerk’s duties.

“Her ability to handle the public in an efficient and cordial manner is surpassed by none. I would recommend Terri for any position which she is suited. She will be a valuable asset to any organization,” Idso wrote.

Two days later, Idso sent a memo to commissioners informing them that Friday, May 11, would be Sanclemente’s last day and that Cervetto would be on vacation for six days.

Idso’s memos contrast Robertson’s claim that Cervetto fired Sanclemente while she was out sick.

Idso passed away in 2014 and efforts to contact Cervetto are ongoing.

On Saturday, Robertson acknowledged that she was not aware of the resignation letter and has never looked at Sanclemente’s personnel file. She also has failed to produce any evidence to support her claim that Sanclemente was fired.

Libel and slander?

“Ms. Sanclemente was advised by a civil attorney that she had a libel and slander claim against Commissioner Robertson. However, Ms. Sanclemente desires to continue to move the city forward with the new administration and not pursue legal action at this time,” said City Attorney Ricinda Perry.

Last year, Robertson was the subject of a similar workplace complaint filed by city employee David Higgins regarding an untrue statement she made to the media.

Shaughnessy was mayor when Sanclemente resigned.

“I went into the office, and Nora was there that day. I asked where Terri was, and Nora told me she resigned,” he recalled.

Clarke said Robertson’s claims are “unjustified and untrue,”

Credentials questioned

In regard to her “grossly un-credentialed” comment, Robertson said, via e-mail, “The RFP (request for proposal) for city clerk under which we hired Jamie Anderson and Gia Lancaster is quite specific in many requirements, and very different from the situation long ago when John Chappie promoted Nora Idso from within.”

According to Perry, there was no RFP issued during the search processes that led to Anderson and Lancaster’s hirings. The positions were simply advertised.

In both instances, the advertisement language said, “The ideal candidate should also be a Florida notary and a Certified Municipal Clerk, or be in the process of obtaining certification. Any combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job may be acceptable in lieu of education or certification.”

Perry noted that Idso acquired her CMC designation while serving as clerk.

The city does not require its clerk be certified, but Sanclemente is in the process of acquiring her CMC credentials, including time spent this week attending public records classes.

“I have no idea why she would want to attack my credibility,” Sanclemente said of Robertson.

“I am totally shocked, and I would have never expected her to do something like that. This is not helping the city heal and move forward.”