News Briefs

+ Publix plans for grand opening Dec. 13
The Longboat Key Publix is almost here. The store’s grand opening is slated for Thursday, Dec. 13. Cars were in the parking lot Monday as Publix employees prepared the inside of the store, stocking its shelves. In the parking lot, construction and landscaping crews are installing parking-lot lights and putting the finishing touches on the landscaping.

The new Publix will be a hybrid store, with conventional items along with many of the chain’s earth-friendly GreenWise products.

The store has enhanced selections of wines and cheeses, a salad bar, soup bar and a Pacific wok station carrying Pan-Asian dishes. The Longboat Key Publix will also offer coffee and an outdoor seating area.

+ Key resident requests legal costs breakdown
Country Club Shores resident Bradford Saivetz has requested a cost breakdown town spending on legal fees that relate to the Longboat Key Club and Resort’s past Islandside projects.

In an email to the Longboat Key Town Commission Monday, Nov. 26, Saivetz wrote: “Considering the fact that I am a taxpayer, I would like to know exactly how much the town has paid and will be paying in legal and other fees for all matters relating to the Key Club adventure — since its inception.”

Saivetz clarifies he’s looking incurred expenses that weren’t reimbursed by the Key Club.

“The sixteen pages of Judge Haworth’s decision, although in legal format, are in plain English and easily comprehendible,” Saivetz writes. “ It states that the total course charted by our legal consultants and implemented by your actions, runs afoul of the law. Yet, our Town Commission remains mum, circles the wagons and returns to the fabricators of this Gordian knot in order to untangle it. Please do not personally justify yourselves on having knowingly taken “risks” while the whole town is footing the bill.”

Finance Director Tom Kelley said his staff is working on Saivetz’s request and it will take time to provide him with an accurate request.

Meetings & Agendas
• Police Officers’ Pension Board Quarterly Meeting — 8 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28
• General Employees; Pension Board Quarterly Meeting — 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28.
• Firefighters’ Pension Board Quarterly Meeting — 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28.
• Town Commission Regular Meeting — 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 3.
All meetings take place at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road, unless otherwise noted.