LONGBOAT OBSERVER
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THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2015
Larson Speaks
Former Sand Cay manager begins three-year sentence
Town Commissioner Lynn Larson discusses town issues.
KURT SCHULTHEIS SENIOR EDITOR
KURT SCHULTHEIS SENIOR EDITOR
Kurt Schultheis
Commissioner Lynn Larson was the guest speaker at the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key’s July 9 breakfast meeting.
Commissioner Lynn Larson was the guest speaker at the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key’s July 9 breakfast meeting. In March Larson reaches the end of term limits as a commissioner after six years of service. “If you don’t like what’s going on, you step up and run or you shut up,” Larson said. “I don’t like to shut up, so I ran.” Larson reflected on the following issues with Kiwanians.
ing to get it moved to the pension board. We are losing $470,000 annually in potential returns by keeping that $1.6 million aside. We voted to move some of that money (approximately $300,000) over to the pension board. The pension fund can and needs to be making bigger returns than it is now.”
FROZEN PENSION PLAN:
FIREFIGHTER CONTRACT:
“It was painful to freeze the pension plans, but the former town manager and past commissions were kicking a $28 million unfunded liability issue down the road for years. We have it down to $24 million now. There will be more pains before we see the number reduced further. We had to do what was right for the town and its citizens.” MONEY SET ASIDE FOR PENSION LIABILITIES:
“There’s $1.6 million set aside for pension liabilities, and I’m try-
“Firefighters paid 10% of their salary for years into their pension plans at their request and now, all of a sudden, it’s a big burden for them. I’m not sure how this negotiation session will play out. I can tell you it’s a good contract for the town, despite what some people have said. That contract stays in effect until we come to terms on a new one.” BUDGET:
“I’m not in favor of using general fund money, which is the town’s rainy day fund, to offset a
deficit. We need to either raise taxes or live within our means and adjust budget line items accordingly. I plan on going through line items more before the budget is approved and making budgetcutting recommendations.” GULF OF MEXICO DRIVE CROSSWALKS:
“Five of them will be built on Gulf of Mexico Drive in 2016. I think they are needed. It’s tough dragging grandchildren across the road to get to the beach. I’m glad Country Club Shores got one. They will only be activated when a button is pushed to walk across.” UNDERGROUNDING:
“I’m extremely happy the Gulf of Mexico Drive undergrounding project is moving forward to the voters. Let the citizens decide if they want to bury utilities and install a fiber optic backbone to improve cellular communication. It’s the right way to do it. “
Former Sand Cay Manager Judy Paul was ordered July 7 to begin serving a three-year prison sentence that she originally received in September 2013. Paul, 51, was convicted in July 2013 on charges of grand theft of more than $100,000 in Sand Cay Homeowners Association funds and scheming to defraud in the amount of $50,000 or more stemming from a series of checks totaling more than $200,000 that Paul allegedly deposited into her personal account during the three and a half years in which she worked at the 60-unit Longboat Key resort. Judge Thomas Krug ordered Paul to pay $200,000 restitution to Sand Cay in his 2013 order, which also includes 10 years of probation that will follow her prison sentence. Prosecutors originally sought a 10-year sentence followed by 20 years of probation. Paul, who has no previous criminal record, has been appealing the order for nearly two years. The Lakeland-based Second District Court of Appeals affirmed her 2013 conviction June 3. Paul, who was living with her parents during the appeal process when she posted a supersedeas bond of $100,000, was scheduled to surrender July 1. When she didn’t surrender, Circuit Judge Susan Maulucci ordered a war-
File photo
Former Sand Cay Manager Judy Paul was ordered July 7 to begin serving a three-year prison sentence.
rant for Paul’s arrest. Paul surrendered July 7, claiming she didn’t surrender as scheduled because she attempted suicide and has several health issues. Maulucci ordered Paul to the Manatee County Jail medical unit before she was transferred to prison. Paul was fired from Sand Cay in 2010 after a 2009 routine audit revealed inconsistencies. When confronted, she insisted she had a verbal agreement with the board’s treasurer and that she regularly had to pay Sand Cay expenses with personal funds and reimburse herself. Police determined records did not support either claim. Paul’s purchases with Sand Cay money included spa treatments, Victoria’s Secret items, custom accessories for her Corvette and plane tickets for her family.
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