Beach officials prepare for adjustments
It has been a long week for Fort Myers Beach officials.
After terminating its town manager July 21, due to the anticipated disruption thought to be caused by his wife’s unknown involvement in the adult entertainment business, the FMB Town Council has faced numerous local and national media requests surrounding the subject. The council is also trying to restructure its town staff so that it may move forward on its table full of current town projects.
While dismissed Town Manager Scott Janke seeks other employment, Beach Mayor Larry Kiker is trying to find time to do his job. His days have been spent answering the phone and emailing responses about the week-old subject, not tackling issues such as the years-long pursuit of beach re-nourishment or the ‘arm-wrestling’ interlocal negotiations involving Lee County over the Bay Oaks Recreational Campus or the town budget process.
“I guess the right answer is to say this is my job right now,” said Kiker. “The council gave me the job to be the spokesman for this whole issue. I’m trying to fulfill every request one email at a time.”
Meanwhile, FMB Public Works Director Jack Green has been appointed interim Town Manager, but will continue to do his assigned duties as well. Kiker thinks Green will do just fine.
“He is remarkably available for discussion and keenly interested in the community,” said Kiker. “The best thing out of all of this is that he is so knowledgeable about what is going on in this town.”
Green, who was in Connecticut when the Janke story broke and returned from vacation Monday, quickly jumped into his new position by joining Councilperson Jo List and Town Attorney Anne Dalton in the Town’s negotiations with Lee County over the Bay Oaks Recreational Campus.
“That allows me to take a good, deep breath and say we are in good hands right now,” said Kiker. “He is obviously very capable. I don’t think we are going to miss a beat with Jack in charge.”
Now that the media attention on the dismissed Town Manager has begun to subside, it should be business as usual for the staff and council.
The FMB Town Council next meets on Aug. 10.