ANNA MARIA – The city is taking its disputes with contractor and developer Shawn Kaleta to Tallahassee and the state’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) that licenses contractors.

City officials have said at recent commission meetings that the documented accumulation of verified DBPR complaints could eventually result in Kaleta’s Beach to Bay contracting firm losing the ability to serve as a certified contractor in Florida.

On Sept. 16, Anna Maria Building Official Jimmy Strickland filed two separate DBPR complaints against Kaleta. The first complaint referenced properties at 101 Willow Ave. and 9802 Gulf Dr.

“Due to continued Florida Building Code violations with not obtaining required permits, I feel that it is in the best interest of the city to submit this complaint,” Strickland wrote.

The second complaint includes the Willow Ave and Gulf Drive properties and recently developed properties at 209 and 211 Magnolia Avenue.

In the second complaint, Strickland wrote, “Mr. Kaleta has performed work on construction projects in the city of Anna Maria without obtaining proper permits before the work has started.”

Strickland also noted that stop work orders were posted at the Willow Avenue property on May 11 and at the Gulf Drive property on July 31.

In regard to the Gulf Drive property, Strickland wrote, “He continued to perform electrical and tile work. As of 9/16 there is no permit for the electrical work that been performed. Other stop works were issued for 209 and 211 Magnolia. These were issued for not obtaining a certificate of occupancy in which the homes were being used as vacation rentals and rented out.”

The complaints will be reviewed by DBRP’s Construction Licensing Board.

New board approved

Mayor Dan Murphy and the city commission also took action at the local level. Last week, commissioners unanimously approved on first reading an ordinance that will lead to the creation of a local construction regulation board that will have the ability to deny, suspend, or revoke the authority of a state-certified contractor to obtain city-issued building permits if found guilty of fraud or willful building code violations.

Determinations made by the local construction regulation board will take place in the form of quasi-judicial hearings with attorneys and the presentation of evidence.

Murphy suggested the board consist of three current and yet to be determined planning and zoning board members.

Commission Chair Chuck Webb suggested the city commission serve as the first line of appeal for those who disagree with the construction board decisions.

Commissioner Dale Woodland praised City Attorney Becky Vose for developing the ordinance.

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The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is forming a committee to gather public input on amenities and decorative features for the new Manatee Avenue bridge.

The design phase of the bridge is set to begin late this year, FDOT Project Manager Kati Sherrard said, adding that features to be considered by the new Aesthetics Advisory Committee include sidewalks, trails, bus stops, bike lanes and landscaping.

The FDOT has contacted officials in Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach, Manatee County and the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization to select members for the committee, she said.

A 65-foot-high fixed bridge is approved to replace the 58-year-old drawbridge, she said, adding that having no drawbridge will allow most vessels to pass under the structure without disrupting traffic.

The replacement bridge will be built south of the existing bridge, and include two 12-foot-wide traffic lanes and two 10-foot-wide shoulders. Ten-foot-wide sidewalks will be included on both sides of the bridge, separated from the shoulders by concrete barrier walls. Four and one-half-foot-high railings will be built on the outside of the sidewalks.

The project also includes improvements to Manatee Avenue (State Road 64), including the addition of 10-foot-wide sidewalks and 7-foot-wide bike lanes on both sides of the road.

The project will extend from just west of East Bay Drive (State Road 789) in Holmes Beach to just east of the entrance to Harbour Isle, according to the FDOT.

Project design has been funded, but construction of the project remains unfunded, Sherrard said.

BRADENTON BEACH – City Commissioner Jan Vosburgh will present a new moratorium ordinance at this week’s City Commission meeting and she appears to have the support of at least one commissioner.

Vosburgh has placed on the Thursday, Oct. 1 commission meeting agenda a new moratorium proposal that will be discussed and voted on during the meeting that gets underway at 6 p.m.

The new proposal seeks a four-month moratorium on houses containing five or more bedrooms, and duplexes containing three or more bedrooms per side in Bradenton Beach’s R-1 or R-2 residential zoning districts.

On Sept. 17, the commission voted 4-1 in opposition to a motion calling for further city attorney review and future commission adoption of a citizen-requested, eight-month moratorium on homes containing four bedrooms or possible sleeping areas, which would have applied to the R-3 zoning district as well.

“I feel very confident that the new, broader and more inclusive moratorium will pass. It is a good compromise and it should be more palatable,” Vosburgh said of her proposed moratorium.

Robertson offers support

Vosburgh’s plans to present the commission with a new moratorium ordinance was one of the primary topics of conversation at the moratorium/vacation rental-themed neighborhood meeting that took place last Thursday night at the Annie Silver Community Center.

Seasonal resident, homeowner and moratorium supporter Betsy Sillars asked Robertson if she was going to support Vosburgh’s proposed moratorium ordinance.

“Would you reconsider your vote?” she asked Robertson.

“I didn’t vote against a moratorium, I voted for the other one,” Robertson said.

At the Sept. 17 commission meeting, Robertson was one of four commission members to vote against the four bedroom, eight-month moratorium presented by planning and zoning board member Jim Lynch and supported solely by Vosburgh.

When that motion failed, Robertson was one of four commission members to vote in favor of developing a new quality of life ordinance instead, with the understanding that the ordinance would include new vacation rental regulations.

“That moratorium wasn’t going to pass anyway, no matter what I did. I never said I was against a moratorium. I’m right here with you now,” Robertson said.

“If it’s put on the agenda again, what’s going to change?” Sillars asked.

“You’ve got to talk to Ed Straight and John Shaughnessy and Mayor Clarke; that’s what has to change because I’m already with you guys with the moratorium,” Robertson said.

“So you would vote for it?” Sillars asked.

“Absolutely,” Robertson replied.

“I think Janie’s point at that meeting was there were a few tweaks that needed to be made in what was presented, " said JoAnn Meilner, who opposed the four-bedroom moratorium.

The enactment of a temporary building moratorium would require the support of at least three commission members. During recent meetings, Straight and Shaughnessy have expressed both support and opposition to a moratorium, and they both voted against the moratorium proposed on Sept. 17.

Clarke said last week that his focus remains on the development of the quality of life regulations, and he does not envision himself voting in support of a moratorium.

Last week’s neighborhood meeting was organized by moratorium proponents Joanne Keir and Priscilla VonAhnen.

“Besides the importance of the topics we discussed, we hoped this meeting could begin to build more open communication among residents as well as with our commissioners. It became evident that many people who are directly affected by this weekly rental situation have strong feelings and need to be heard,” Keir said later in the week.”

Mayor Jack Clarke did not attend the neighborhood meeting, but he did comment on one of its participants.

“It’s not surprising to see Mr. Shearon involved in this because his livelihood depends in part on short term vacation rentals. It’s a supply and demand issue. If there are fewer available units, the person providing them can charge more and expect a higher occupancy rate,” he said.

CORTEZ – Commercial fishermen met Saturday with state wildlife officials that they invited to Cortez to discuss ways to keep dead mullet from washing ashore during the annual fall roe roundup.

Around December each year in the waters surrounding Anna Maria Island, commercial and recreational fishermen from all over the Southeast race to net female mullet that produce valuable red roe, or eggs, worth $1 to $1.50 a pound (as food, the fish sells for about 50 cents a pound).

Males, which produce less valuable white roe, wind up in the nets too and are often tossed overboard dead or dying in favor of the pricey females. They wash up in canals on the bay side of the Island and on beaches on the Gulf side, creating eyesores and bad odors for residents and tourists and a mess for Manatee County workers to clean up.

Commercial fishermen spearheaded the meeting, concerned that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) might shut down the mullet fishery altogether if the problem happens again this year, putting them out of business at their most profitable time of the year, Fishing for Freedom President Mark Coarsey said.

The group has long suggested that the state allow gill nets, made illegal in 1995, saying they would solve the problem because the smaller males can swim through the large mesh openings in the net and escape, while the fat females are caught by the gills.

“Do you not think that you could bring back gill nets so we can continue to fish?” Capt. Kathe Fannon asked. “We never had to be monitored. We never depleted our resource, and we always respected it.”
That is unlikely to happen anytime soon, Coarsey said, adding that Fishing for Freedom will continue to support efforts to bring back gill nets.

Cortez gold

Mullet dumping, or culling, is “an ugly, greedy, disgusting practice that must be abolished,” said Nate Meschelle, of Fishing for Freedom, who gave a presentation on the issue Saturday.

He blames the problem on greed for Cortez gold.

“Now people see dollar signs. They throw the fish overboard and they know it’s wrong when they're doing it. They don't see the beautiful fishing industry. They’re raping and pillaging the natural resources we’re blessed with, and it’s not right,” he said. “Fishermen have to use better judgment by not culling fish, and by landing all harvested mullet. Be a leader and lead by example.”

Meschelle requested an emergency ruling by FWC of zero tolerance on culling mullet from Cedar Key south to Naples from Dec. 1 to Feb. 28, with the penalty for violation being a first degree misdemeanor.

The action is not necessary because current law already addresses the problem, according to the FWC.

State law requires immediately releasing unwanted fish at the site of capture, meaning 15 to 30 seconds, which gives the fish a chance for survival, Alan Peirce, of the FWC, told the standing-room-only crowd at Fishermen’s Hall.

But it takes more time than that to unload heavily-laden nets and separate the fish, fishermen objected. In addition, they said, the fish that have been caught by two or three boats during the roe roundups, when several boats chase one large school of fish, are unlikely to survive because they have lost their protective slime coats rubbing against the nets.

Recreational fishermen have obtained licenses and worsened the problem, coming from all over the state for the roe, fishermen said, some claiming that they cause the majority of the dumping.

The FWC will be mailing out a one-page summary of fishery regulations to all licensed fishermen in an effort to curb the problem this fall, said Tom Graef, FWC’s regional director for the Southwest region.

“We’re going to stay in touch with you, calling back and forth, adding to our enforcement,” he said, adding that FWC officers also will talk to fishermen at boat ramps, where fish were dumped in past years.

The FWC also is adjusting its methods of patrolling the waterways to try and be in the area when fishermen are following a school of mullet, so officers can address those who are holding the fish too long, he said.

Violators are easy to find outside Longboat Pass, said Mark Taylor, a former commercial fisherman and president of Organized Fishermen of Florida, who now cleans the beaches, including dead mullet, for Manatee County.

“These boys are asking for enforcement and cooperation,” he said, adding, “There's a fine line between enforcement and harassment.”

The problem can be approached from another angle, said John Banyas, owner of Cortez Bait and Seafood – if the two fish houses in the village are stuffed to the gills with mullet, they can refuse to accept any more fish.

“We can say, ‘Nobody’s buying, so stop fishing.’ If it’s a poor year, we’ll need the fish, but if it’s a banner year, we can do that.”

Fannon urged fishermen to work with the fish houses.

“We’re here to support and protect Cortez Bait and Seafood and A.P. Bell Fish Co. That’s what we have left. We are the last working fishing village in the state of Florida. If these two go, we’re a tourist trap,” she said.

ANNA MARIA –The termination of two of the Community Center’s most popular employees prompted criticism from parents and others, raising questions in its wake and leaving a community seeking answers.

Matt Ray, adult sports manager, and Ray Gardner, youth sports manager, both terminated on Tuesday, Sept. 22, told the same story. They arrived at the Center, one at noon and one at 1 p.m., for a meeting with Executive Director Kristin Lessig and were ushered into the board room and told they were being fired by Lessig and Board Chair Bill Shuman.

“I was blindsided,” Ray said. “I was never warned or written up. Kristin said they were going in another direction.”

Gardner said, “Kristin said they had a vision for the Center and were re-evaluating positions, and my position was to be terminated.

“I asked what the vision was, and she said to have one person over the sports program. Every other time they restructured, they gave employees an option.”

Both said they were told they were banned from the Center for six months, given their belongings and escorted out the door.

“Being banned threw me way off. I can’t play sports, coach, volunteer or be in the murder mystery play,” Gardner pointed out.

“Escorting me out was something a big corporation would do. It was poorly handled. We at least deserve an explanation.”

“My kids are signed up for soccer,” Ray added. “I can’t watch them play or take them to practice. And I can’t be in the murder mystery play.”

Director and board chair respond

Board Chair Bill Shuman explained, “The board is moving in another direction. There are performance reasons for the terminations, but they were not provided to the two because of legal issues. They both understand there are reasons.”

Regarding the six-month ban, Shuman said, “It’s good to have some separation. We are a public Center. We asked them to give consideration of their presence at the Center until things settle down.”

“Matt and Ray are extremely well liked and appreciated by both the Center team and the community at large,” Lessig added. “Our changes are the result of necessary restructuring within the recreation programs we provide.

“Our open door policy and focus on executing our budget and plan to move the Center forward while best serving the community are at the forefront of mind in making any changes – as difficult as they may be.”

She said the restructuring included being charged with conducting a thorough review of programs and positions in order to improve the offerings to the community and increase the viability of the Center. The process began in December 2014 and has continued over the past nine months.

“It’s clear that different results require a different structure,” she continued. “Unfortunately, along the way, hard decisions have been required, resulting in the removal of some staff members. This has been an extremely difficult but necessary part of the process.

“We have done our best to minimize the hardship with positive recommendations while being as generous with severance as we can be, given our current financial position. Of course, we cannot comment with specifics on any staffing changes and with regard to any particular individuals.”

Parents weigh in

“From a perspective of how they treated and cared about the kids, they were really dedicated,” Jaynie Christenson said. “The kids loved them. Their heart was in the right place with the kids. They are good guys.”

David Greene pointed out, “They had an amazing rapport with the kids. The kids respected them and listened to them. They touched all of our children in a way parents really appreciate. The kids really loved them. My kids cried when they heard about it.”

“They were really great with the kids,” David Zaccagnino said.

Coach Darren Wash said, “All the kids loved them. They were great with interacting with the kids.”

However, other parents, who declined to be identified, said there were issues with organizational skills, follow through and lack of supervision.

One said, “Parents asked for improvement. They knew they had to start doing things differently.”

Another explained, “They were not leading the department, but the Center did not give them the guidance and support they needed. They were treated poorly and never given clear direction.”

Raising fees

Both Ray and Gardner said one of the problems they faced was when fees were raised for the sports program.

“We’re the most expensive league around – both kids and adults and all sports,” Ray pointed out. “Teams were dropping off because people couldn’t afford it. If someone wants to play sports and has a kid or two that wants to play sports, it gets expensive.”

Gardner said soccer was down two teams in the 3 to 5 division, 1 in the 6 to 7 division and three teams in the 8 to 10 division.

“We raised the price of sports, and people said it was too expensive,” Gardner explained. “The sponsorships went from $350 to $500, and we got no sponsors, so we came up with a format to reduce the price to get people back.”

Gardener said the Center planned four tournaments in the summer, but he and Ray felt the price at $25 was too high to enter. At the first tournament, baseball, no one came and one team showed up for the volleyball tournament.

“We asked to drop it to $10 and said we could make up the difference with raffles,” Gardner continued. “The next tournament was flag football, and we got five or six teams and then we got nine teams for basketball. We made $200 in raffles, but we never got any congratulations or positive feedback."

The play’s the thing

The other issue is the fact that both Ray and Gardner are in the cast of the Center’s annual murder mystery play, which is in rehearsals now. However, their being banned from the Center caused an unusual situation.

“When they were fired, they were told they could no longer be part of the play,” Beth Shaughnessy, the play’s author and director, explained.

“It caused a domino effect. We’re an extremely tight knit cast and the others said if Matt and Ray were out they wouldn’t do it either.”

Shaughnessy, Shuman and others are attempting to reach a compromise regarding the appearance of Ray and Gardner in the play and negotiations are ongoing.

“It’s not an easy thing,” Shuman said. “The cast was not pre-warned, and it’s affecting their ability to go forward.”

“Matt and Ray need to be part of the play,” Shaughnessy stressed. “We feel pretty positive about it.”

Moving on

“I’ve been here four years and been through four directors,” Ray said. “It’s taking a different route. It’s not a country club, it’s a community center.

“I love the community aspect. If you get away from that, you don’t have a community center. It’s hard not to be a part of it.”

“We have put our heart and soul into the Center and people have been really supportive,” Gardner added. “I have no ill will. I love the Center and want it to succeed.”

Regarding a transition, Lessig explained, “As to the viability of the sports programs, we have been working with coaches and captains to ensure the smoothest possible transition. All games are set to begin on schedule next week for youth soccer and both adult soccer and basketball."

She said they have created the position of recreation director to oversee both the afterschool activities and sports, which was filled by an individual with an educational teaching background as well as sports coaching and administration background.

“The vast experience in working with children, as well as qualifications in holding a Master’s of Education Administration degree +45, principal and superintendent, makes him an ideal candidate for ensuring that all aspects of the programs are administered with proper communication, oversight and attention to details,” she said.

They also have added a youth program manager with a degree in physical education, who has taught ages K through 8th grade and has experience in coaching and as an athletic director. This manager will focus on the day-to-day facilitation of the before- and after-school activities and youth sports.

“We will continue to improve programs and services going forward and are excited to share the many new ideas and facility enhancements at the grand re-opening on Monday Oct. 5,” Lessig concluded.

BRADENTON BEACH – It appears as though a Sunshine violation may have occurred at last week’s neighborhood meeting discussion on building moratoriums and vacation rentals.

Planning and Zoning Board members John Metz and Jim Lynch were among the 20 or so Bradenton Beach residents who participated in the informal, 90-minute meeting that took place Thursday, Sept. 24, at the Annie Silver Community Center. The meeting was not organized by the city.

According to the Florida Office of the Attorney General Website, “The Sunshine Law applies to all discussions or deliberations as well as the formal action taken by a board or commission. The law, in essence, is applicable to any gathering, whether formal or casual, of two or more members of the same board or commission to discuss some matter on which foreseeable action will be taken by the public board or commission.”

On Sept. 17, the City Commission directed staff to begin developing a quality of life ordinance that would include new vacation rental regulations. The motion presented noted that planning board review might be required if the new regulations address the city’s land development code.

On Thursday night, Metz and Lynch both spoke at a meeting that included discussion on the quality of life ordinance they may be asked to review.

The discussion also included comments from Commissioner Janie Robertson and former Mayor Bill Shearon about Sunshine Law compliance for committees, but no one questioned the presence of two planning board members.

City attorney concerned

On Friday, City Attorney Ricinda Perry expressed her concerns in an e-mail sent to City Clerk Terri Sanclemente.

“When more than one board member or more than one elected official converse on a matter that is foreseeably coming before them there are potential Sunshine violations,” she wrote.

“The most prudent thing for a board member or elected official is to only attend meetings that are located on city property, that have been properly noticed and where minutes of the meeting take place. As the city attorney, I find this type of meeting conducted on 9/24 as unadvisable,” her e-mail said.

On Thursday, Sanclemente learned that Commissioners Ed Straight and Jan Vosburgh had been invited to attend the meeting. Because the attendance of elected or appointed officials had not been publically noticed, she contacted Straight and Vosburgh and recommended they not attend. Had more than one commissioner participated in the meeting, additional Sunshine violations would have occurred.

“It would be in all commissioners’ and board members’ best interest to carefully consider potential Sunshine issues should they wish to attend meetings of this nature,” Perry’s e-mail concluded.

When asked if the planning board members’ participation was a Sunshine violation, Perry said, “It appears so.”

Lynch said he was not aware that the recent commission actions regarding the quality of life ordinance impacted his ability to participate in the meeting. As one of the first to arrive, his presence did not constitute a Sunshine violation until Metz arrived and both board members remained once the meeting started.

Vosburgh blames herself for putting Lynch in this position.

“I asked Jim Lynch to attend the meeting, not knowing that John Metz had been invited.” she said.

Metz did not respond to inquiries seeking his comments.

Second op inion

On behalf of the Citizens for Sunshine organization, Sarasota attorney Andrea Mogensen is currently in involved in a Sunshine lawsuit regarding two Sarasota city commissioners who attended a luncheon discussion on homelessness at a time when their commission was dealing with homeless issues.

Because more than one commissioner attended a luncheon that was not publically noticed, the city was subjected to $17,000 in initial legal fees. One commissioner reached a personal settlement that required a $500 donation to a charitable organization and additional Sunshine training. The other commissioner continues to dispute the Sunshine allegations, which has resulted in more than $85,000 in additional legal fees.

When asked about the events that transpired Thursday night, Mogensen said, “Without question, when two members of a board discuss a matter that will foreseeably come before that board, it is a Sunshine Law violation. The issue, as I understand the facts, was that two planning board members were there and it’s foreseeable that a land use issue will come before the planning board.”

Mogensen said Citizens for Sunshine would review the incident and future legal action is possible.

HOLMES BEACH – Drainage – it’s not the sexiest subject, but it’s one dear to the hearts of most Island residents – especially after a drenching thunderstorm that leaves streets and yards flooded.

The three Island cities are taking a unified approach to the problem, led by tri-city engineer Lynn Burnett of LTA Engineers, which is overseeing the installation of stormwater filtration/percolation trenches along city rights of way.

The cooperative effort is rare for the three Island cities, and Mayor Bob Johnson said it affords an opportunity to take advantage of efficiencies. Burnett added that all three cities approved a time and materials contract with Woodruff and Sons, which is doing the construction work, at a reduced rate.

Right now the focus is in Holmes Beach, where trenches recently were installed on 85th Street, startling residents, who were not notified. Now that is changing and residents are being notified of coming projects and given the opportunity to ask questions and air concerns.

So what’s this new drainage system all about?

“This is a different approach to an old problem,” Johnson explained. “We’re helping Mother Nature. We used to move the water from place to place; now we’re letting it naturally go where it’s supposed to go.”

“We’re taking drainage in a completely different direction and trying to fix it in a modern way with the percolation system,” added Burnett. “We want to clean the water and get rid of it.”

Percolation system

Burnett explained that with the percolation system, workers dig down until they reach clean white sand. Filter fabric is used to line the sides of the trench, which is filled with large, clean aggregate, in this case recycled concrete, to within 6 inches of the top. Next a layer of filter fabric is added and topped with white stone, so stable you can park on it.

The first systems were installed in 2011 and include South Bay Boulevard, North Shore Drive and Coconut, Spring and Magnolia avenues in Anna Maria; Sixth Avenue, 42nd, 52nd and 85th streets, the S curve at the public beach and Avenues B and C in Holmes Beach; and Fifth Street South, the alley between Avenues A and B and Avenue C north of 26th Street in Bradenton Beach.

The next project will be a series of streets in Holmes Beach from the end of October to the end of December. Burnett will hold neighborhood meetings on a street-by-street basis (see box).

In the spring of 2016, work will be done in the areas of the elementary school and city field in Holmes Beach, Bay Drive North from Ninth to 12th streets from the Gulf to the bay in Bradenton Beach and streets at the entrance of the city of Anna Maria including Beach, Park and Maple avenues, Archer Way and Periwinkle Plaza.

Holmes Beach drainage improvement schedule

The improvements in Holmes Beach will be installed along the following streets from the end of October to the end of December:

• Marina Drive from 85th to Palm Drive;
• 500 block of 77th Street;
• 500 block of 75th Street;
• 500 block of 74th Street;
• 500 block of 72nd Street;
• 500 block of 71st Street;
• 500 block of 70th Street;
• 500 block of 69th Street;
• 500 block of 68th Street;
• 500 block of 67th Street.

City Engineer Lynn Burnett will be conducting neighborhood meetings on a street-by-street basis as follows:

• 77th Street: Oct. 6, 3 to 3:45 p.m.;
• 75th Street, Oct. 6, 3:50 to 4:35 p.m.;
• 74th Street: Oct. 13, 3 to 3:45 p.m.;
• 72nd Street: Oct. 13, 3:50 to 4:35 p.m.;
• 71st Street: Oct. 20, 3 to 3:30 p.m.;
• 70th Street: Oct. 20, 3:45 to 4:15 p.m.;
• 69th Street: Oct. 20, 4:20 to 5:05 p.m.;
• 68th Street: Oct. 27, 3 to 3:45 p.m.;
• 67th Street: Oct. 27, 3:50 to 4:35 p.m.

Each meeting will commence at the street intersection with Marina Drive at the time listed above. Opportunity will be provided at that time to discuss any concerns that residents may have.

If you are unable to attend the meeting and wish to discuss the project details, contact Burnett at 941-526-3375.

ANNA MARIA – The community is invited to a grand re-opening at the AMI Community Center, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, on Monday, Oct. 5.

At 6 p.m., there will be a ribbon cutting by the AMI Chamber of Commerce followed by tours of the building to see the remodeled kids’ and soiree rooms, the Center Café, the art room and the fitness space and room. At 7 p.m., there will be a presentation.

“We will unveil our new logo and brand, new membership structure and fees, share our new mission values and introduce our six new team members,” Executive Director Kristin Lessing said.

“It will be a time for everybody to have input and share their thoughts since the July town hall meeting.”

Lessig said people also could learn about the new after school program called Beyond the Class room in which each day has a special theme and activities.

There are Movement Mondays in which Pete Paciorek leads movement activities, Technique Tuesdays in which artist John Allinson teaches art techniques, Whimsical Wednesdays in which a teacher leads Latin dance and Fantastic Fridays in which a variety of activities are offered. They are still seeking a group or person to lead Theatrical Thursdays. In addition, retired teachers Nancy Deal and Karen Clarke tutor kids in reading.

She said the mural project, which has been in the planning stage for several months, would begin in October. Kids guided by Allinson will paint the outside wall by the playground equipment.