The Islander Newspaper E-Edition Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019

Page 1

sea turtles set record. 22

Planking the pier. 5 Astheworldterns tip the BB seesaw. 6

Bridge warriors return. 16

Sept 6 sea turtle stats: 533 nests, 576 false crawls, 317 hatched nests.

SEPT.11, 2019 FREE

VOLUME 27, NO. 46

anna maria swim advisory ends. 3 appeal filed in Sunshine lawsuit. 4

Meetings

on the government calendar. 4

Op-Ed

the Islander editorial. 6

10-20 Years ago from the archives. 7

Holmes Beach prepares for storm cleanup. 8

Save the date. 10-11

Happenings announcements. 11, 13 BB CRa considers master plan recommendations. 12 Take 5:00: Stepping up for island son. 13

Streetlife. 14 Judge postpones ruling in Bert Harris cases. 15

get in the game. 17

Gathering. 18

Obituaries. 18 artist transforms beach trash. 19

The Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992

soe rejects Bradenton Beach ballot initiatives By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter

Take one step forward, two steps back. You’re in Bradenton Beach. Four proposed charter amendments petitioned by the Keep Our Residential Neighborhoods political action committee failed to make the Nov. 5 Bradenton Beach ballot under a decision by the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections. City commissioners learned of the decision Sept. 5, the day after they approved a resolution for the vote. “The ballot language does not comply with Florida Statutes, specifically 101.161,” Supervisor of Elections Michael Bennett wrote in a Sept. 5 letter to Bradenton Beach city clerk Terri Sanclemente. “I do not believe it is in my authority to change

or create any ballot wording, so I will be unable to place these questions on any ballot.” “I had previously indicated Sept. 5, 2019, as the deadline to get any amendBennett ments on the ballot,” Bennett continued. He offered to extend the deadline to Sept. 9, but no later. The charter amendment subjects for the ballot include: Perry • Prohibit construction of a multilevel parking garage in the city; • Require city commission vacancies be filled by election; • Prevent construction within setbacks;

Mixing young and old Island Library volunteer Sara Hudgins helps Vincent gollamudi embellish a picture frame Sept. 7 at the Island Library’s grandparents day Celebration. Islander Photos: Sarah Brice

Lifesaving lessons on tap at Island Library. 21

NESTING NOTES. 22 23 adult soccer, football standings tight. 24 Storms bring fish in numbers. 25

tourism numbers. 26 CLASSIFIEDS. 28 nYt Crossword. 31

Vincent gollamudi, 7, of Holmes Beach, displays his finished keepsake, an embellished frame with a photo of himself and his mother, nenita daguinotas.

• Establish a full-time city manager. The state law Bennett referred to requires a ballot title of up to 15 words, as well as a ballot summary not to exceed 75 words, including amendments to a city charter, which acts as a municipal constitution. The ballot language, which Bradenton Beach commissioners adopted Sept. 4 in a resolution to the SOE, exceed the word limit, according to Bennett. Blame for the city’s failure to put the questions on this year’s ballot is up in the air. Judge Lon Arend of the 12th Judicial Circuit Court made it the city’s responsibility to determine the ballot language to conform with state law in his final judgment, but city attorney Ricinda Perry refused to PLeaSe See BB BALLOT, Page 2

anna Maria seeks applicants for vacant city seat By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter

AmE NEWS 20

ENDLESS SUMMER:

islander.org

Vincent gollamudi offers a helping hand to 20-month-old finn Bryant at the Island Library’s grandparents day Celebration.

Anna Maria’s open city commission seat might not be available for long. Mayor Dan Murphy told commissioners in a Sept. 4 emergency meeting that the city is taking applications to fill the vacancy on the commission created by the Aug. 30 resignation of Brian Seymour. The mayor added that he hopes to fill the vacancy by the end of September. Seymour’s resignation letter to Murphy did not provide a reason for his departure. It was tendered a day after city commissioners voted against an amendment which would have allowed Seymour to sell package liquor from a storefront near the Anna Maria General Store, which he owns. Applicants looking to fill the vacated seat must be Anna Maria residents for at least two years and be qualified to vote in the city. City employees, as well as anyone holding another municipal office, cannot apply. Murphy said people can find an application on the city’s website at cityofannamaria. com or visit city hall at 10005 Gulf Drive. Applications must be submitted to city PLeaSe See AM VACANCY, Page 3


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