Wing and a pin. 19
Tracking turtles. 22
Killer heat. 23
AMITW July 19: 468 nests, 572 false crawls, 38 hatched nests. Astheworldterns cast doubt on shadows. 6
JULY 24, 2019 FREE
VOLUME 27, NO. 39
Another wave of force main work on horizon. 3
Meetings
On the government calendar. 4
Op-Ed
The Islander editorial, reader opinions. 6
10-20 YEARS AGO
From the archives. 7 Save a date. 10
Happenings
Announcements, activities. 11 HB grounds e-scooter rentals, bike-shares. 12 DOT adjusts timeline on Longboat bridge. 12 BB may soon have a flag to fly. 13
Streetlife. 14
STREET MAP 16-17
The Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992
www.islander.org
Judge rules for Bradenton Beach in Sunshine lawsuit By chrisann silver esformes islander reporter
The trial is done and the city prevailed.
the July 15-19 trial for the case pitting the city of Bradenton Beach and ex-mayor Jack clarke against six former volunteer city board members, alleging violation of florida’s government-in-the-sunshine law, ended July 19 with Judge edward nicholas ruling in favor of the plaintiffs. “The last two years have been difficult. I appreciate that,” nicholas, of the 12th Judicial circuit, said July 19 upon issuing his ruling. “and i’m hoping that, to some extent, the conclusion of this trial may help close the wound that has been so open and so raw, out in Bradenton Beach for so long.” The suit, filed in August 2017 by Clarke and joined by the city, alleged sunshine law violations by former P&Z board members reed mapes, John metz, Patty shay and Bill Vincent, and scenic Waves Partnership committee members tjet martin and rose
Gathering. 18
‘
This is not a close call. Even after being advised not to continue to do so, even after not getting any clarity via the Florida Ethics Commission letter, the defendants continued to meet, continued to discuss at length, issues. — Judge Edward Nicholas
’
Vincent, all of whom were members of the now-defunct grass-roots group concerned neighbors of Bradenton Beach. all but metz represented themselves as pro se defendants. the city, represented by attorney robert Watrous, alleged the board members violated florida’s government-in-the-sunshine law by discussing city matters at cnoBB meetings and through emails, texts and phone calls.
Top Notch
Obituaries
Former Mayor Dick Connick dies. 19 No-swim advisory lifted for Palma Sola. 19
Judge Edward Nicholas gives his ruling in the city versus citizens lawsuit. Islander Photo: ChrisAnn Silver Esformes Opening statements Watrous presented the judge with a timeline of events, including several cnoBB meetings that were not noticed or recorded, as well as transcripts and recordings of meetings that included discussions of land-use matters that he claimed either did or were likely to come before the defendants as board members. He said the defendants were warned by city attorney ricinda Perry, who had listened to recordings on the cnoBB website and determined the group’s discussions were placing the city at risk for a sunshine law violation, which could lead to a lawsuit against the city by outside interests. that outsider turned out to be ex-mayor Jack clarke. Please see sunshine, Page 8
WMFR to build new HQ. 20 AME calendar. 20 AM pier gets wired. 21 Indoor soccer helps kids stay cool. 24 Adapt for angling success. 25
ISL BIZ
Chamber biz. 26-27
PropertyWatch. 28 CLASSIFIEDS. 28 NYT crossword. 31
Week 5: Flippin’ for Flipper
Whitley Southard, of Henderson, Kentucky, takes the prize for the fifth week of The Islander’s Top Notch photo contest with a photograph of a dolphin chasing a boat wake and performing a 360-degree rotation. The photographer wins an Islander “More-thana-mullet wrapper” T-shirt and entry into the finals, a grand prize of $100 from The Islander and an assortment of gift certificates from participating advertisers. The last entry deadline for the six-week contest is this week at noon, Friday, July 26. Rules and deadlines for contest submissions are online at islander.org.
A Facebook post July 12 welcomes a street vendor’s late-night opening on Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach. See story, page 2. Islander Screenshot: Lisa Neff