Northpinellas: Pinellas digest

The town of Belleair has filed a lawsuit challenging the city of Belleair Bluffs over its firing of Fire Chief Joseph Pidala. Attorneys for the town are asking that a judge order officials from both municipalities to meet with an arbitrator about their dispute over a fire department consolidation agreement. In the meantime, Belleair has asked the judge to order that Pidala be reinstated to oversee both fire departments. Belleair Bluffs officials fired Pidala in December and banned him from the Belleair Bluffs-owned firehouse, where Pidala remains the fire chief over three Belleair firefighters. In addition, the Bluffs notified Belleair that it will terminate the fire service agreement between the cities in a year. In a complaint filed late last week, Belleair officials accuse Bluffs officials of violating the fire service agreement when they fired Pidala without discussing the matter with Belleair. Under the arrangement, the two departments share resources, personnel and a firehouse. Three of the firefighters work for Belleair and the other six work for the Bluffs. The equipment is commingled. Belleair Bluffs paid Pidala $36,000 annually to be its 30-hour-a-week chief, and Belleair pays him $16,000 annually for 15 hours. Belleair officials say the firing was a breach of a seven-year agreement that "generally prohibits either municipality from instituting unilateral policy changes that affect fire service," wrote Joel R. Tew, an attorney for Belleair, in a letter to Bluffs Mayor Chris Arbutine. John G. Hubbard, an attorney for Belleair Bluffs, responded in a letter that there is nothing in the agreement that requires concurrence from Belleair to fire the chief.

Exercise for arthritis sufferers offered

CLEARWATER -- The Arthritis Foundation's water exercise program, sponsored by the city of Clearwater, is Monday through Friday at the Long Center at 1501 N Belcher Road. The program is designed to use all the parts of the body commonly affected by arthritis. The classes feature low-level range of motion and strengthening exercises taught by instructors certified by the Arthritis Foundation. Water supports the body and makes painful joints easier to move. All the exercises are conducted in a shallow heated pool. A built-in ramp or steps with a hand rail give access to the water. Participants don't have to know how to swim. Cost of the classes is $2 each class for Clearwater residents and $2.50 for non-residents. For information, call the center at 462-6028 or 462-6425.

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright