Leadership Conference to produce future leaders
If past experience could serve as future predictions, learned governmental roles and responsibilities as well as information about island jewels and destinations should produce future leaders of Fort Myers Beach.
Seventeen community members graduated from the 2015 Beach Leadership Conference Saturday after a two-day interactive seminar that featured speaker presentations and field trips to Fort Myers Beach facilities.
The free learning experience, sponsored by the Town of Fort Myers Beach and spearheaded by the Community Resources Advisory Board, could net more than just Certificates of Completion. Graduates intend to assume volunteer positions that could lead to key Town advisory committee assignments and possibly higher policy making positions. Past recent conference attendees include Vice Mayor Dan Andre, Councilwoman Rexann Hosafros, former Vice Mayor Joe Kosinski, Councilwoman Summer Stockton, Local Planning Agency member Chuck Bodenhafer, Marine Resources Task Force Chairman Bill Veach and a cast of Mound House docents.
This year’s graduate class were Patty Feste, Penny Van Boxtel, Ed Corea, Rosalie McGovern, Sandy Walker, Bonnie Clark, Sue O’Brien, Doug Ewart, Sandra Zimmerman, Maureen Hall, Carolyn Neal, Dennis Neal, Mutzi Prasse, Tree Andre, George Clover, Jerry Crowley and Sheryl Thompson.
“The group was very enthusiastic, and the presenters did a superb job,” said CRAB chairperson Miffie Greer, the event organizer. “We hope that out of this, we will have more participation in Beach volunteerism activities.”
On Friday, presentation officials involved Mayor Anita Cereceda, Councilman Alan Mandel, Councilwoman Rexann Hosafros, Town Manager Don Stilwell, Town Clerk Michelle Mayher, Public Works Director Scott Baker, Administrative Services Director Maureen Rischitelli, Fort Myers Beach Film Festival’s Elizabeth D’Onofrio, Fort Myers Beach Art Association’s Michele Buelow, the Greater Fort Myers Beach Friends of the Arts’ Carla Mandel, Vice Mayor Dan Andre, Town Environmental Sciences Coordinator Keith Laakkonen, Lee County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Matt Powell, Beach Fire Chief Darren White, Community Emergency Response Team Leader Ed Milde, FMB Chamber President Bud Nocera (a 2013 BLC graduate) and every chairman of Town advisory committees.
Cereceda believes the effectiveness of the conference and overall Town achievements will hinge on how many people volunteer in the future.
“To this day, I truly think that the majority of success for this Town has been on the back of the people who volunteer on our committees,” she said. “They are the ones that are helping to move things forward constantly. They are the ones that are not subject to the political will of the day.”
On Saturday, the attendees visited Mound House, Bowditch Point Park, Fort Myers Beach Library, Beach Elementary School, Bay Oaks Recreational Campus, Matanzas Pass Preserve and the Historical Cottage. At each facility, officials discussed their roles and infrastructures.
“There is more to do on Fort Myers Beach than any one person can do,” said Greer.
CRAB members were applauded for their efforts and, in turn, thanked Town staff for strong work in assistance.
“A lot of the reason everything went very, very well was because of the cooperation of the Town staff,” said Greer.
Here is a short capsule look at what the Friday morning speakers had to offer during their presentations:
n Mayor Cereceda Cereceda discussed Town incorporation, the reason for it, the founding fathers and their roles, the first Council and Beach taxes.
“The Town incorporated because of land use. We did not incorporate to have a fire station or a police department,” she said. “Probably the most significant role of the Town Council is to proceed in quasi-judicial hearings for zoning. Controlling how much is on this island, controlling that density, controlling the intensity of this island was of utmost importance to the founding fathers of this community. We incorporated on a promise that the town would provide this community equal or better service for the same price. This community is changing. You will see more change in this community in the next five years than you probably will in (your lifetime).”
– Councilman Mandel/Councilwoman Rexann Hosafros Mandel discussed small town influence on subjects like water quality issues and FEMA flood insurance restrictions as well as local influence on projects like Estero Boulevard Improvements and stormwater. Hosafros discussed her Town experiences that began with the leaderships conference that led to a policy-making role and being involved in workshops and prepping for meetings.
“I was so excited about learning the things about this town, I thought maybe I should run for Town Council,” she said. “This is a special place to serve your community. What you can do by volunteering and being a leader in this community by being on one of our committees and being on Town Council, you can accomplish a lot.”
– Manager Stilwell Stilwell discussed a manager’s role within a small community, the ability of Council appointing the Town manager and Town attorney and the expendability of the Town manager.
“The Town manager is responsible for what happens day to day,” he said. “Council is essentially the captain, and they decide where this ship is going to go. And, we want the people to be comfortable on the trip, so Council will hold the manager accountable. I have to treat everyone the same.”
– Clerk Mayher Mayher discussed the role of the municipal clerk position, a role that traces back prior to Biblical times. She also went over the Town charter, the Beach constitution, state legislature and the right to view public records.
“The role of municipal clerk could possibly be stated as the most undefined job description in the history of government,” she said. “According to our charter, the town clerk shall give notice of council meetings to its members and the public, keep the journal and minutes of the proceedings of the council and its committees, authenticate by signature and record all ordinances and resolutions passed by the Council, be the custodian of the Town seal, have the power to administer oaths and perform such other duties as assigned by the Town manager.”
– Director Baker Baker introduced staff members Chelsea O’Reilly, administrative specialist, and Keith Laakkonen, the environmental sciences coordinator. Beside the essential job duties, he spoke on little-known duties of his department, like managing the Mooring Field, Beach and Street Enforcement, maintenance duties and the many projects that involve water issues and North Estero Boulevard.
“I think the beachfront is a very crucial part. It is the front area of the Town that people come here to look at and touch. It is a very huge priority for Public Works to keep that beach the way it is,” Baker said.
– Director Maureen Rischitelli Rischitelli recently came to the Town after wearing many hats, including financial director and town manager for communities in Massachusetts and Florida. As well as financial director and budget advisor, she is involved with human resources and risk management. She spoke about the many taxing entities that affect the average taxpayer and the Town’s small portion it receives from taxes (i.e. total taxes at Town Hall = $12,502.47; Beach portion receiving = $615.09).
“My job here is to help the team do its job, help the Town fulfill its mission and its service to visitors, citizens and anyone who gets to enjoy Fort Myers Beach,” she said. “The needs of the town and wants of the town change. The budget is a snapshot in time because it is a fluid document.”
– Film Fest’s D’Onofrio – D’Onofrio discussed her film roles that began with acting and continued with production, writing and directing with other Beach residents that share the same passion. This year, the FMB Film Festival is from April 22-26.
“There has always been an audience for theatrical entertainment on Fort Myers Beach,” she said. “The Fort Myers Beach Film Festival began under the Town of Fort Myers Beach in 2001 to 2005. A group of artists on the Beach brought it back by forming Beach Arts Cooperative in 2009.”
– Arts Board Member Buelow Buelow stated FMBAA is the oldest cultural organization on Fort Myers Beach after being organized in 1951. The all-volunteer group’s building houses a gallery and studio and has more than 200 members. November’s Paint the Beach is one of the organization’s major events that attracts artists from all over the world.
“We are not just hobby artists,” she said. “Many of our artists are very accomplished. The Paint the Beach event does benefit the art association. We are a 501(c)3 group, so we do have to raise funds to maintain our building.”
– Arts Friends’ Mandel Mandel discussed that umbrella organization that she serves as the vice president. The art organization’s mission is to support and promote all kinds of art on and in the area around Fort Myers Beach. It helps sponsor Paint the Beach and an ongoing concert series.
“We are the audience, appreciators, the people who come to the performances who banded together with some other interested people and wondered what was needed to bring the film festival back,” she said. “There are wonderfully talented people on Fort Myers Beach, and we can do amazing things. The idea was to be able to provide you with a venue that wasn’t necessarily in a bar. We would like to do anything that we can to add to our image and to the Town image.”