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Indian Rocks Beach looks for healing

Monday's meeting faces issues ranging from building officials to mayors past and present and the city manager.

By SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA
Published March 27, 2005

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH - How this controversy-ridden beach community addresses the deepening "mess" at City Hall may begin to become clear Monday night.

That is when the commission will debate how to reconstitute its community development and building department, decimated by the resignation last week of its director, Pete Pensa, the recent firing of Building Official Steve Andrews, and the resignation of the city's permit clerk.

It's also the first time the commission will meet since the announced resignation of Mayor Bob DiNicola, who is sharply critical of the city's recent direction and controversies.

There also are lingering questions about the future of City Manager John Coffey, the target of sharp criticism during a lengthy investigation of his recent firing of Andrews. The commission is expected to review his overall performance by the end of April.

"I think John is still in jeopardy. He's not out of the woods yet," DiNicola said last week. He opposed the recent commission investigation of Coffey and the city administration.

Pensa said he decided to leave "after the (City Commission) inquisition" over Andrews' firing. "I am bothered by the commission's lack of understanding of the professionalism and expertise of its staff," he said.

Other city employees, who asked not to be identified, confirm that morale at City Hall is very low.

"The city is in a real mess. The community development and building department is half of our city and there's nothing there," said Commissioner Jim Palamara. "I'm definitely not happy. An unstable government administration is the last thing you want."

Palamara said he is "struggling with the line between micro-managing and setting administrative policy."

"I won't let my town fall apart," he said. "When I see problems in front of my face, how long does it take to fix them? The city manager position is responsible for everything, but I'll manage if I have to."

DiNicola has some parting advice for the commission. "The commission should evaluate John (Coffey) on the basis of his whole performance, not just the Andrews matter. It should work as a unit and not as individuals. It should get off its high horse and befriend the county. It should work better with other municipalities. And we need to get rid of all these petty lawsuits," he said.

Other commissioners are similarly concerned about the city's direction.

Commissioner R.B. Johnson, who would have become vice mayor if the commission had followed its 12-plus year-tradition of rotating that post, said the commission's decision to re-elect Vice Mayor Bill Ockunzzi is "a shame."

While he supports Ockunzzi as the city's new mayor, Johnson said he is "very distressed" over the city's "congressional-style" investigation of Coffey.

"I don't know where they city is going from here," Johnson said. "We spend too much time berating staff and beating issues to death. Being a commissioner should not be about stamping feet and demanding things to be done. Things shouldn't have gotten this far."

One issue that most commissioners appear to agree on is preserving the present "lifestyle and ambience" of the city.

To most people that means no high-rise buildings or large-scale developments along Gulf Boulevard. The city is currently developing architectural guidelines for developers and may begin a visioning process to guide development over the next 10 or 20 years.

"All I want is for working class people to still be able to live in this community," Palamara said.

"I will try and keep the commission working as collegially as possible and not take sides on issues," said Vice Mayor Ockunzzi, who will become mayor on April 1. "Sometimes its is a bit rough and tumble and we don't agree on everything, but I respect the other commissioners."

Ockunzzi, who was just re-elected to the commission, said he may ask the commission to hold a special election to fill his seat, which will be vacant when he becomes mayor. The charter calls for a vacancy to be filled by appointment by the full commission until the next regular election.

"There are so many issues facing us, it would be better to have someone on the commission that was elected by the citizens," he said.

Those issues include not only the structure of the community development department, but also resolving a continuing debate about how to regulate redevelopment of the city, providing for municipal projects while keeping property tax rates low, and, of course, having a smooth-running city administration.

Monday's meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, 1507 Bay Palm Blvd.

[Last modified March 27, 2005, 00:34:19]