Town names five new retirement board members

The newly formed Longboat Key Retirement System Board of Trustees had five open seats and five applicants, so all that was left for the Longboat Key Town Commission to do on Monday was vote on who would be the chair and vice chair of the newly consolidated board, as well as select their number of terms.

The town previously administered retirement systems for three employee pensions separately. But effective Oct. 1, there is now one board overseeing one consolidated retirement fund to replace the three former plans.

Armando Linde, who previously served on the Firefighters’ Pension Board of Trustees, was originally listed as a candidate for the new board. However, he withdrew his candidacy the morning before the commission meeting.

“It’s a personal decision,” Linde said. “My wife and I have a lot of trips planned, which include seeing the grandchildren.”

When the former commission candidate was asked if he still plans on being active at Town Hall, Linde said, “No, not much at all.”

Commissioners approved the nine-member board that will consist of five trustees.

Chairman Steve Branham, who served on the General Employees’ Board of Trustees, will serve a three-year term.

Vice Chairman Frank Cona, who served on the Police Officers’ Board of Trustees, will serve a two-year term.

Other members include:

• William Forcht, who will serve a one-year term;

• Lou Levy, who will serve a one-year term;

• Nancy Woodley, who will serve a two-year term.

The Town Clerk’s office began to advertise for the new board in early August, contacting all of the previous commission appointed trustees by mail to let them know about the upcoming appointments and to determine their interest in serving on the board.

The eligible members of the Firefighters’, General Employees, and Police Officers’ Retirement Systems were mailed nomination forms and subsequently ballot forms to elect their representatives to serve on the new board.

One elected member from each of those three retirement systems were chosen by the town manager earlier this summer while the commission was on hiatus. They include:

• Judd Jensen, a retired Longboat Key police officer;

• Thomas Sousa, a retired Longboat Key firefighter;

• Sandi Henley, town budget analyst.

Town Manager Dave Bullock, who makes up the board’s ninth and final member, believes Longboat Key is on the right path toward paying down its $27 million in unfunded pension liabilities with the new consolidated pension board.

“For the past three years we have been heading in this direction with freezing plans, creating new pension boards for the three pension plans,” he said. “And now the final step is consolidating and making the three pension plans one.”