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Politics

Safety Harbor officials take pen to to-do list

They adopted a new budget, approved a recycling contract and gave the city attorney a raise.

By EILEEN SCHULTE
Published September 22, 2006

SAFETY HARBOR - The City Commission spent several hours taking care of business Monday night, doing everything from honoring the local VFW post for winning a couple of national awards to approving the replacement of a sewer line at south Bayshore Drive.

But there were discussions concerning more weighty issues, as well. Here they are - and the outcomes:

- Adopt the final budget and millage rate.

After months of work sessions and hearings, commissioners were more than ready to approve the city's $43-million budget for 2006-07 and keep the millage rate at 2.7391 mills.

"We shook this tree, and we realized there wasn't anything there (to cut)," said Vice Mayor Kara Bauer.

Interim Mayor Andy Steingold agreed, saying the budget is "lean and mean and healthy."

"I don't think the citizens of Safety Harbor are willing to give up their services," he said.

Well, all except one man.

Lawrence Burke stood before the commission and asked them to "ax the budget."

"From the Keys to the Panhandle, residents are in revolt over property taxes," he said.

He asked them to rethink their decision to put an addition on the library, and asked them to stop the downtown mobility study and cancel the Waste Management recycling contract.

The commission listened politely, then adopted the budget.

- Renew the curbside recycling contract.

City Manager Wayne Logan had advised the commission to reject a three-year bid from Waste Management, its current provider, and instead approve a one-year extension of the current contract. During that time, staffers would study whether it would be more cost-effective to buy equipment and provide the service itself.

Waste Management's bid included a 50 percent increase in rates for 2006-07 and increases of 5 percent for each of the two years after that. The cost would be $235,071 for next year.

The commission decided to approve the three-year bid with an opt-out clause.

- Give the city attorney a raise.

Months ago, Alan Zimmet requested an increase of his monthly retainer fee from $5,500 to $6,000. City Commissioner Kathleen Earle was hesitant about giving him the additional money, as he has been absent from several meetings over the past year.

"Six months into my term, I'm uncomfortable approving this," she said.

But Bauer said she found Zimmet's work to be more than satisfactory, and she was going to vote for it - with one caveat.

"Frankly, I'd like to see your face here more often than your junior hitters, although they've handled themselves ably," she said.

The motion passed 3-1, with Earle voting against it and commissioner James McCormick absent.

[Last modified September 22, 2006, 07:11:54]