Briefs

+ Armstrong’s request denied
At its Monday, Sept. 13 regular meeting, the town of Longboat Key’s Code Enforcement Board unanimously denied Key resident James Armstrong’s request to consider halting his $50 per day fine and $2,178.50 fee assessment for administrative costs.

The board voted at its August meeting to levy the fines after determining Armstrong had done construction at his home in the 2900 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive without obtaining the necessary permits.

Armstrong, who maintains town staff trespassed on his property to obtain photographic evidence, is appealing the board’s decision before the Sarasota County Clerk of the Circuit Court.

Assistant town attorney Kelley Martinson told the board Monday that the order and fine it imposed were entered correctly but could be overturned on an appeal by the higher court if necessary.

Armstrong told the board he has yet to turn in a completed permit application to the Planning, Zoning and Building Department because there are discrepancies in the survey for his property.

Planning, Zoning and Building Director Monica Simpson, however, said the hang-up exists in determining which survey for the home is correct.

+ Police sign three-year contract
Town Manager Bruce St. Denis and police union representative Dennis Silverio Jr. signed a three-year labor contract Thursday, Sept. 9.

St. Denis sent an e-mail to the Town Commission Thursday announcing the inked contract.

The three-year deal, which begins Oct. 1, only gives the officers raises and cost-of-living allowances if other town employees receive them. It also keeps their current wages intact.

The town will not alter the pension for the officers currently on duty. But the town is removing vacation time and sick time out of an officer’s final compensation package for purposes of calculating a final pension payout. The town also reserves the right to modify the pension plan for new police officers.

The police department’s bargaining unit and the Town Commission must now ratify the contract.

+ Meetings & Agendas
• Planning and Zoning Board Regular Meeting — 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21.
• Town Commission Regular Workshop — 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23.
All meetings take place at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road.