New Town Council gets to work
The Fort Myers Beach Town Council began a new era on Monday during its regular meeting at Town Hall by swearing in two new members of the council and saying goodbye to those leaving.
Rexann Hosafros and Ray Murphy, both of whom who served town council before, took their oaths to office, but before that, the town council said goodbye to Mayor Tracey Gore and Councilmember Dennis Boback, former mayor and longtime council member, to standing ovations.
Councilmember Joanne Shamp read off the long list of accomplishments the town achieved under his watch, adding that he accomplished them without raising the millage rate.
“The town is better off financially thanks to your service and you met your campaign promise,” Shamp said. “May your time ahead be filled with health and happiness.”
“It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve my second time around, and I wish the next council well and hope they do as well as we did,” Boback said.
Shamp was more emotional when saying farewell to Gore, saying she, “served with unparalleled passion and dedication.”
“It’s been great. We accomplished a lot of great things and we have two experienced people who have been on council before and know what they’re doing,” Gore said.
Murphy was immediately installed as vice mayor, while Councilmember Anita Cereceda will serve as mayor for the third time.
Council liaisons to town committees were also named.
There was much work to be done.
Barbara Hill was named to the Bay Oaks Recreational Campus Advisory Board, while Sheena Stockton was named to the Community Resource Advisory Board. Heidi Jungwirth was named to the Public Safety Committee.
The new council also approved an ordinance that updates the town’s towing ordinance to utilize the county’s rate structure and a resolution to apply for and administer a grant from the Florida Boating Improvement Program for $100,000 for Fountain Park waterfront improvements.
It also authorized a lease to own agreement for a turf mower and sand pro (a machine that drags the infields) for its ball fields. It would cost the town just short of $50,000 for the 60-month payment plan on a six-year lease. They would replace the 15-year-old equipment the town inherited from the county and is now in poor condition.
They also passed the scope of work pertaining to a parking study, and heard a presentation on sea turtle lighting, which was geared to educate people to the struggles of sea turtles in the face of artificial lighting and the best way to light homes to keep safe environments for people and for sea turtles.
Last year, council asked staff to improve outreach about sea turtle disorientation due to lighting and best practices for the species.
“We’re trying to enforce this but make it feel like stewardship. Those who live on the beachfront understand they are stewards by choosing to live there,” Shamp said.