LBK Charter Review Committee formed

The Charter Review Committee is set, and with it comes an important task: reviewing and recommending changes to the town’s charter.

The Longboat Key charter was published in 1957 and has been amended several times since. Town Attorney Maggie Mooney describes the charter as the town’s “municipal constitution,” outlining Town Commission term limits, commissioner qualifications, the form of government of the town and more.

The charter also specifies that every 10 years a committee must be formed to evaluate the document and discuss and recommend changes. On Monday, June 29, the Longboat Key Town Commission chose the members who would make up the latest iteration of that once-in-a-decade committee.

The members are Steve Baril, Mike Haycock, Susan Phillips, Ken Schneier and Howard Veit.

Haycock and Schneier are former commissioners. Haycock served as vice mayor during his commission term from 2019 to 2025. Schneier served as mayor for much of his commission term from 2018 to 2026.

Baril, a retired business litigation and government relations lawyer, is a Country Club Shores resident who worked with the town advocating for his neighborhood regarding the turn lane addition and canal dredging program.

Phillips represents the committee as a former town employee. She was assistant to the town manager for 27 years. She is married to current town commissioner, Steve Branham.

Veit is a retired health care administrator and management consultant who has owned property on Longboat Key for 35 years and been a full-time resident since 2022. Veit is on the board of directors of the Paradise Center and serves as secretary.