County commissioners step down from the dais

As they face their last two weeks as government officials, Commissioners Nora Patterson and Joe Barbetta share their successes and thoughts on the future for the county.

Patterson reached her term limit after serving on the board for 16 years. Prior to that, she served on the City Commission. Barbetta has served since 2006, and served on the planning commission previously.

Both said they feel they are leaving the county in good hands when they depart Nov. 18, as newly elected Commissioners Alan Maio and Paul Caragiulo take their places.

Joe Barbetta // DISTRICT 2
What is a hobby you’re excited to spend more time on now?
I used to walk the Ringling Bridge to St. Armands every morning. Also, riding my motorcycle, which I haven’t done in a while. I have a BMW 1200. About 40-some years ago I bought a motorcycle, and I’ve been riding ever since. I’m an occasional rider, just for fun — I’m very careful.

Then versus now: What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen?
With the recession, I think the initial challenge was keeping a balanced budget and not having to raise taxes, which I’m proud to say we never did. Challenges were keeping the level of service we provided to the community stable. With good foresight and good reserves, we were able to weather the recession and get through it. We improved the parks system and library system, enhanced public safety, improved technology and embraced sports tourism.

What do you think was your biggest accomplishment?
It’s hard to limit it to just one; I am proud of a lot of things — keeping a balanced budget, enhancing youth sports and youth development. Retention of spring training baseball was huge. I worked hard on that. The Cincinnati Reds moved to Arizona. I immediately started contacting the other teams in the area that we could move into our stadium. Negotiations took place with the Boston Red Sox, and things were looking pretty positive. We were going to get a brand new stadium downtown, at the edge of Payne Park, which, in my opinion, would have totally revitalized downtown. Unfortunately I was not able to get the full support of the commission at the time, and it fell through. The Baltimore Orioles were waiting in the wing. We didn’t skip a beat; we didn’t lose a year. My biggest disappointment, though, and it’s nothing against the Orioles, was not getting the Red Sox. It was the loss of an economic development opportunity there.

What ongoing issues do you feel most concerned about?
I think finalizing 2050, the growth management plan, that’s been kind of stagnant for the past 12 years. There’s a lot of misinformation; 2050 was a simple, voluntary overlay plan. I voted against it then when I was on the [Sarasota] Planning Commission; I thought it was too restrictive. I think improving the collegiality of the County Commission and the municipalities — it’s been a little tense lately with the city of Sarasota and a little bit with North Port. If people park their egos at the door and say what’s in the best interest for the overall community ... I think this is a great county and we can continue to along these lines.

What’s your advice to the new commissioners?
My advice is come to the board prepared: Read your packets, do your job and remember you represent the entire county, not just the people making the most noise. You represent 390,000 each and every day. It’s really an honor and privilege to serve, and just remember that when you wake up every day.

Nora Patterson // DISTRICT 4
Do you have any plans yet to stay involved with local government, or will you be taking a break?
I am definitely going to take a little break. I am pretty involved in the community and always have been. … I enjoy public service one way or another; it doesn’t have to be government.

What is a hobby you’re excited to spend more time on now?
I play tennis, and I’m looking forward to having some time to take some tennis lessons, because I don’t play all that well. I have been hoping that we would come to the decision to buy a dog. The last few years, my husband and I have been so busy we thought it would be cruel to bring a puppy home, so that may be in the future.

Then versus now: What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen during your tenure?
I have seen our library system, which has always been wonderful, get even better; I have seen our parks system grow. The politics of the community demand a very high quality service level, and that has not changed. Over the years, in spite of a deep recession, which was very difficult to accommodate, we’ve both been able to lower the millage rate and simultaneously complete a large portion of the road grid system and increase the general level of service in our parks and libraries.

In your words, what is the role of the County Commission?
The County Commission’s role is to direct policy; set the budget; make sure we have an effective administrator who employs an effective staff able to deliver good service; direct land use planning; and altogether, be essentially the board of directors of the county. Our role is more complex, though, because we answer to residents.

What do you think was your biggest accomplishment?
To say “my accomplishment” is not fair. We’re a board of five commissioners; you can do absolutely nothing as one commissioner. … I feel as though when I drive around the county, there are tons of things — pieces of road network, parks that we never had before — where I can say, “I had a little a little something to do with that.” I didn’t waste my time; I was able to work with people and make some of these things take place.

What ongoing issues do you feel most concerned about?
I think I leave behind a bright, very concerned and responsible commission. I pass the torch quite comfortably. I am concerned about some of the land-use decisions that have been made on a broader level, that perhaps the economic crisis that we have been through over the last seven years may have driven the land-use pendulum perhaps a little far in one direction, and perhaps some decisions have been made that will have a long-term impact.

What’s your advice to the new commissioners?
To listen. You’ll hear all kinds of points of view. Even if a perspective comes from someone who you don’t know or have no reason to accept as an authority, positions that vary are worth listening to, worth analyzing and decisions aren’t always black and white. It’s just really important to just listen to people and make sure you’ve taken different perspectives into account.