Lore: Town searched for Longboat's Key next town manager

The town hadn’t even posted an ad for the soon-to-be-vacant town manager’s position but had already received nine applications at the May 14, 1982, Longboat Key Town Commission meeting.

The ideal candidate: someone between the ages of 35 and 60 with a graduate degree in public administration, experience running a small city and experience in dealing with developers and zoning and coastal issues.

Salary: $32,000 to $40,000, “preferably at the lower end of the scale, so as to allow for raises as he/she progresses in the job.”

Adjusted for inflation, that works out to $77,188.77 to $96,486.22 in 2013 dollars.

The current town manager’s salary: $180,000.

+ It takes a Village
The group now known as the Longbeach Village Association held its first meeting May 7, 1986.

The group called itself the Village Civic Association before deciding to name itself the Longbeach Village Association in honor of the old Longbeach post office. Other names considered, and sometimes used, included the North Longboat Civic Association, the Longboat Forum and the Longbeach Civic Association.

+ Colony receives a sign from commission
Colony Beach & Tennis Resort General Manager Katie Moulton told the Longboat Key Town Commission at its May 3, 1999, meeting the Colony’s sign had been in place for about 30 years, but former Planning, Zoning and Building Director Mary Black told the commission she hadn’t seen “conclusive data” proving the sign was more than 25 years old.

The commission sided with the Colony, giving the sign historic designation, which is reserved for signs more than 25 years old.

That meant the Colony didn’t have to move its sign, which extended about 4 feet into the state right of way.
The sign still stands today and is still owned by longtime Colony owner Dr. Murray “Murf” Klauber. Last summer, after several letters faded, Klauber had the words painted over with the sign’s signature forest green color.