Longboat Charter Review Committee has been selected

Blending newcomers to town governance with experience, commissioners have selected the Charter Review Committee to consider changes to the town’s basic framework.

All seven applicants for the job were accepted by commissioners.

Members of the committee are former vice mayors Dave Brenner and Phill Younger, former commissioners Pat Zunz and Randy Clair, and newcomers to Longboat Key government Bill Cook, Ted Salisbury and Alan Pryor.

The committee will consider refining portions of the town’s charter, which serves as a basic document under which the municipality operates, much like the constitution of a state.

Those changes can be small, like tweaking language or deleting sections already covered by state statutes, or large, such as altering election day or Town Commission term limits or districts.

It’s a process that takes place every 10 years. Ultimately, Longboat Key voters will decide in March 2018 whether the commission’s recommendations will take effect.

 Town Manager Dave Bullock said it would be ideal if the committee can finish its work by October for inclusion on the March 2018 ballot.

Applicants had the opportunity to speak with commissioners about their qualifications and intentions before commissioners made their selections.

Brenner said he would like to explore options for increasing voter turnout, while Clair floated the idea of finding ways to make commission elections more competitive, especially district elections, to encourage public interest.

The three newcomers spoke of how their experience will aid the process.

Salisbury spent three decades in municipal government, including a tenure as city manager of Brantford, Ontario, while Cook discussed his time working in quality control, assisting large companies, like Kraft General Foods, in making decisions.

Pryor has spent 40 years in financial services, noting that he has started companies and served as a chair on various boards.

“My work, apart from the managerial aspect, always involved deep considerations of very complex accounting, finance, tax, legal and regulatory issues,” Pryor said.

At Commissioner Irwin Pastor’s recommendation, all seven were approved to serve.

“We’re very fortunate to have seven very highly qualified, experienced people that are willing to serve this community,” Pastor said.

Committee members will be tasked with selecting a chair and vice chair for the group.

Assistant Town Manager Mike Hein said the committee will work out a meeting schedule in the coming weeks, and town staff will be available to support the group. 

By way of example, Hein said if the committee considers an alteration to the charter regarding finance, the town’s finance director will be available to advise.

Though Hein was uncertain how soon the process will get started, he said one thing is for certain.

“What’s clear is everybody has great interest in getting this under way,” he said.