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© St. Petersburg Times, published February 10, 2002
TREASURE ISLAND -- Because the city will stop offering free bridge passes to volunteers, some commissioners say they shouldn't get the passes either.
Commissioner Butch Ellsworth has proposed eliminating free passes for current and future commissioners. The exception would be for former commissioners who retired with at least 10 years of service to the city, and who still live in Treasure Island.
"That leaves no bone of contention anywhere," said Ellsworth.
Commissioners last month ended the practice of offering free annual bridge passes to members of boards and committees when they discovered some volunteers were being left out.
"I just feel that it's right for us to bite the bullet also," said Ellsworth. "What makes us better than anybody else?"
The $30 passes still will be given to city employees and retired employees who meet certain criteria for service and residency.
Commissioners plan to vote on the issue at a meeting Tuesday at 3:30 p.m., City Hall, 120 108th Ave.
Mayor Leon Atkinson said he believes commissioners should continue to receive the passes because they are city employees. Eliminating passes for commissioners is going "a little bit further than necessary," he said.
Commissioner Stephanie Lavino, who originally raised the issue of some volunteers being excluded from the free pass list, said "Nobody that volunteers expects a pass, but this is a very nice thing for the city to do."