Community Resources holds Leadership Conference
The Community Resources Advisory Board held its biannual Leadership Conference Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6.
This year’s conference had approximately 16 participants who spent the two days learning about Fort Myers Beach’s town government and taking field trips to its local sites of interest, including the Mound House.
Town Council gathered to talk to the group about its beginnings, its functions and its council-manager style of government.
“People tell me ‘well you’re the mayor, do something about it,'” Mayor Dennis Boback said. “But we’re a council-manager form of government, the in-charge person is the manager enacting the policy we set.”
Council Member Anita Cereceda, who was the first mayor, said this form of government was chosen instead of a mayor-council form – in which the mayor has more power than the council – so that everyone elected to council would be equally represented and have equal power, thereby making the government a group effort.
Council Member Joanne Shamp, who often professes her love for the town’s founding documents, also discussed the guiding principles of the town: the charter, land development code and comprehensive plan.