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Dec. 6, 1977 Palm Harbor chamber to Dunedin: Hands off

PALM HARBOR - The Greater Palm Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce has adopted a resolution opposing any plans by the city of Dunedin to annex portions of the Palm Harbor area now or in the future.

"We respectfully ask the commission of the city of Dunedin to refrain from attempts to usurp the rights of the citizens of Palm Harbor by attempting to annex this area," the resolution said.

The chamber's board of directors met and adopted the resolution last week after the Pinellas Times reported that Dunedin might include the unincorporated area of Palm Harbor in an extension of Dunedin's northern planning boundary - but not the city limits at this time.

Dunedin Planning Director Richard Gehring said the extension would be in anticipation of future annexations and would have no immediate effect on unincorporated areas.

Palm Harbor Chamber of Commerce members, however, said that to be included in a planning area would be similar to threatening annexation.

"We don't think Dunedin is capable of handling its own business as it should," said chamber president Charlie A. Jones. "They have to plan before they can pursue, and it should be brought to their attention that Palm Harbor wants to stay unincorporated. We want controlled growth, but we don't think Dunedin would help us a bit."

Palm Harbor is an unincorporated community with an estimated population of 17,000. It is north of Dunedin and is bounded on the south by Curlew Road and on the north by Klosterman Road.

If a demand for incorporation arises, the people would prefer having Palm Harbor as its own new city rather than as a part of Dunedin, said Palm Harbor Chamber executive director Clifford M. Fugit. The chamber would be among the first to support such a move, he added.

CLEARWATER - Officials of the Clearwater Realty Association announced the arrival in Tampa of a squad of inspectors from the Florida real estate commission and declared that arrests may be made in Clearwater for violations of the state real estate law.

Walter W. Rose of Orlando, head of the commission, said ample time has been given to live up to the real estate license law, which calls for registration of brokers and salesmen.

A thorough investigation will be made of those operating as real estate brokers and salesmen without having registration certificates. The inspection campaign is a statewide affair, and violators will not escape arrest, it is claimed.

The registration requirement may increase the confidence of northern investors in representations regarding Florida real estate.

OLDSMAR - This city's first woman mayor began making changes as soon as she took the oath of office Wednesday night.

Margaret Rose, 49, accepted the gavel - "and all the responsibilities," she was told - from resigning Mayor Charles Lister, and immediately announced her intention of shortening the meetings.

"There's no reason we can't be through by 11," she said. Oldsmar City council meetings have been known to adjourn as late as 2 a.m.

"But by 12 or 1 a.m., we're too tired to be making decisions," Mrs. Rose said.

As part of her resolve to shorten the meetings, she asked that the agenda be completed before a meeting convenes. The practice has been to add items to the agenda as they come to mind during the meeting.

"Discuss the issues, and not the personalities," she said. "We'll have our differences, but our strength is in our diversity. We have to have disagreements to do the best for Oldsmar."

--Theresa Blackwell compiles the history column. You can reach her at 727 445-4170 or tblackwell@sptimes.com