Lenobel resigns from Longboat commission

At-large Commissioner Hal Lenobel resigned yesterday from the Longboat Key Town Commission, effective immediately, citing recent illness and the Dec. 29, 2011 death of his wife of 62 years, Hazel.

In a July 5 letter to Mayor Jim Brown, Lenobel wrote:

“It is with regret that I am forced to inform you that I am resigning from the Longboat Key Town Commission, effective immediately. I have served 12 and one-half years on the Commission, including three years as mayor and Hazel’s recent death and my rather severe sickness has made continuance on the Commission impossible.

I have enjoyed working with all the present Commissioners and staff and I am sure that the Commission will solve all the problems facing them and they will prevail over all the problems that the economy has put in their path. I wish you all the best of luck!”

Lenobel was not immediately available for comment.

Lenobel is a retired dentist from Long Island, N.Y., who bought his unit at Longboat Harbour in 1969 and moved to the island full-time in 1993.

Lenobel served on the commission from 1997 to 2005, then took a three-year reprieve before returning in 2008.

Brown said that Lenobel had hinted earlier that resignation was a possibility. Brown hoped that the longtime commissioner would evaluate the situation in September, when the commission returns from its two-month summer hiatus.

Brown described his respect for Lenobel to the Longboat Observer.

“I’d put him in the Longboat hall of fame,” he said. “We didn’t always vote the same way, but that’s not the way it’s supposed to be…I think he is an extremely strong and wise person who only spoke when he had something to say.”

The commission has 30 days to appoint a replacement for Lenobel. If commissioners don’t make an appointment, a special election would take place in 90 days. Because Lenobel held an at-large seat, his replacement could come from anywhere within town limits.

For more information, pick up a July 12 copy of the Longboat Observer.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].