New council recognizes and reorganizes
The Fort Myers Beach Town Council said goodbye to one councilman, greeted a new member and welcomed back two others before electing new officers.
Councilman Tom Babcock was given an appreciation plaque and a key to the town for his 10-plus years of distinguished service marked by exemplary dedication to the town, especially for his years on the Local Planning Agency and Town Council.
“Tonight, I feel a little sad,” said Babcock. “My support system could not be here tonight. Annie (his wife) has been through this whole event since the beginning. She was my campaign manager and treasurer and greatest supporter for the last three years and also my greatest critic. I should take this opportunity to thank the people who put me in this chair. I hope I’ve met the expectations they had of me three years ago. We are a unique island.”
Babcock then thanked the town staff and his fellow council members before giving appreciation to all volunteers groups on the Beach.
“They are the people who really provide the character of this town. Hopefully, I become more a part of them over the next couple of years,” he said. “With that, I’ll I can say is that I’ll be back.”
New councilman Joe Kosinski was the first to be sworn into office by Town Attorney Jim Humphrey. He was followed by re-elected council members Jo List and Bob Raymond.
Humphrey then led the reorganization of the council. Raymond nominated Mayor Larry Kiker to retain his officer position on council, citing “continuity” for his reasoning.
On the same line, Councilman Alan Mandel nominated Raymond for the vice mayor position. Both Kiker and Raymond were unanimously re-elected into their respective positions.
Under advisory committee reports, Community Resources Advisory Board Chairman Jim Rodwell announced the dates for the upcoming Beach Leadership Conference. The conference is scheduled to be held on May 11, 14, 18 and 20.
After a light administrative agenda that featured the approval of a settled lawsuit agreement and a recommended donation use for Bay Oaks Recreational Campus, the council members selected council representatives to outside (off Beach) committees and town advisory committees and boards.
The council representatives and (alternatives) are for the following outside committees: Raymond (Kiker) for the Metropolitan Planning Organization; Kosinski (Mandel) for the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program; Mandel (List) for the Coastal Advisory Committee; List (Raymond) for the Horizon Council; and Kosinski (Kiker) for the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council.
The council representatives and (alternatives) are for the following town advisory committees and boards: Kiker (Kosinski) for the Anchorage Advisory Committee; List (Mandel) for the Bay Oaks Recreational Campus Advisory Board; Raymond (Kiker) for the Community Resource Advisory Board; Mandel (List) for the Cultural and Environmental Learning Center Advisory Board; and Kosinski (Raymond) for the Marine Resources Task Force.
The council approved to have a special meeting at 1 p.m. next Monday (March 28) to review policies and procedures; discuss Seafarer’s Mall; and go over agenda management. It will meet for its next regular meeting at 9 a.m. on April 4.