Commission agrees to Armstrong settlement

The Longboat Key Town Commission agreed to a settlement with resident James Armstrong in which Armstrong will pay a $650 fine, have a $2,117.50 non-interest bearing lien placed against his home for administrative costs and allow the firm of M.T. Causley Inc. to perform an independent inspection of the home and report back to the town.

Armstrong had been accruing a $50-a-day fine since Aug. 9, 2010, when the Longboat Key Code Enforcement Board found that he had performed work on his home in the 2900 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive without obtaining necessary permits.

In December 2010, the commission authorized Town Attorney David Persson to file a lawsuit against Armstrong in order to enforce town codes.

The $650 fine will take the place of the $50-a-day fine, which by now would total more than $30,000. Town legal fees in the case have exceeded $150,000.

For more information, pick up an April 26 copy of the Longboat Observer.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].