In Brief

+ No trash pickup on Memorial Day
There will be no trash collection on Memorial Day Monday, May 25.

The alternate pickup day for trash will be Saturday, May 23.

+ Roundabout rejected in Venice
An e-mail dated March 11 that made its way to Town Hall last week from a Florida Department of Transportation project engineer explains that a proposed roundabout for U.S. 41 at the Venice Avenue intersection is not recommended.

States the e-mail: “A traditional intersection with traffic-signal control will outperform a roundabout at the project intersection. During peak periods of traffic flow, the operation of a roundabout has a much higher chance of causing congestion than the traditional intersection. For these reasons, we do not recommend further consideration of a roundabout at the U.S. 41 (Venice Bypass)/Venice Avenue intersection.”

The city of Sarasota’s estimated $50 million bayfront connectivity proposal calls for five roundabouts to be constructed on U.S. 41 near the bayfront.

+ Early retirement recommended again
Town Manager Bruce St. Denis is recommending an early-retirement option again this year to reduce expenses, for which 17 employees would qualify.

Finance Director Tom Kelley reports that four of the 17 eligible employees are interested in the proposal, which would result in approximately $190,000 in town savings. However, three of the four employees would have to be replaced.

The Town Commission will consider the retirement incentive at its Thursday, May 21 regular workshop.

+ Sunset variance proposal considered
The Longboat Key Town Commission will consider a proposal by its Planning and Zoning Board to hold public meetings regarding the possibility of sunsetting variances.

The planning board and the Zoning Board of Adjustment believe that variances should expire when a structure is knocked down, because the shape of the land on Gulf-front lots constantly changes. Variances sought by property owners attempting to move homes closer to the Gulf currently run with the land and not the structure itself.

+ Meetings & Agendas
• Town Commission Regular Workshop — 2 p.m. Thursday, May 21.

All meetings take place at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road.