Four seats are up for grabs on the Islamorada dais in this year’s election, with current council members either running for other offices, terming out or choosing not to seek re-election. As a result, new faces will be seen come November.
This is the final candidate question forum by the Upper Keys Weekly, which for the last several weeks has posed a question to each candidate in the race on a village issue. To view those responses, visit keysweekly.com and search “Islamorada council election.”
Candidates were asked to answer the following two questions as they relate to village business and conducting council meetings. Candidates had the opportunity to respond to each question in 100 words or less. (Answers are as submitted.)
• If elected, what will be the first order of business that you’ll bring when a new council convenes for the first time?
• If elected and chosen as mayor, how would you run the council meetings?
SEAT 1
PETE BACHELER
The first order of business should be to get started on the documents required to obtain the Village Manager’s applications. Then the staff should put out the newspaper ad for the manager opening. A committee of local volunteers from the Village should be set up to review the applications. The committee will pare down the applicants to the final 3-5 persons best qualified for the position. Those selects will go to the Council to interview in person. Upon completion, the Council in a public hearing will choose the new Village manager.
I would run the Council hearings by following the agenda promulgated by the planning director, Village Manager, Village attorney, and other staff members as required for the hearing. The outline form works well. The management of the meeting is a little more complicated. Time management is the most important and includes the time of the public speakers and individual council members. Control is the key issue here as runaway speakers or council members waste the time of all concerned. Only two candidates have this experience.
FRANK LAVIN
I would start the process to repeal Ordinance 20-02.
I would like to incorporate a half hour of community interaction before starting the formal meeting. I would ask that council members have read through the entire agenda and have done all their due diligence, before voting on the items presented. Run the meetings as if you were running a multi-million dollar corporation.
SEAT 2
CHERYL MEADS
My first order of business when the new council convenes would be to have a discussion about the replacement of the city manager, the halting of the pedestrian bridge construction, repeal of Ordinance 20-02 , a discussion about the standing committees of the Village and their membership composition, ways to increase the amount of affordable housing units in the community, and restoring transparency by ensuring that all meeting minutes and videos are placed online.
If chosen as Mayor, I would run the meetings in an efficient manner such that public comment and resident input is prioritized and not limited. I want to work to ensure that the voice of the residents is not silenced or forced to wait hours to be heard on a particular item.
MARK GREGG
I will ask the Council to concentrate on solving our affordable housing crisis. I’ll ask the Council to begin the process of planning how we can best use the 300 new workforce rental units allocated to the Village by the state. I’ll ask the Council to begin the process of adopting a new ordinance that allows homeowners to use existing enclosed living space as an Accessory Dwelling Unit as allowed under Florida Law. I’ll ask the Council to consider changes to our land development regulations to make it easier for business owners to create on site employee housing.
Having served as Mayor during my first term on the Council, I learned that a careful balance between business like efficiency and careful consideration for public input is the best approach. Relaxing formalities and increasing opportunities for public comment is essential so that everyone has a full and fair opportunity to be heard. Controversial items should be set aside for a special call meeting.
SEAT 3
JENNY BELL-THOMSON
I would call for a charter review committee.
I am not qualified to be mayor; I would hope we elect someone with more than just a couple years of experience on the council so that person could be appointed mayor. I would, however, continue the board’s practice of encouraging citizen input and ask that items be time certain as often as possible. I would want meetings to be available through all different types of media even when face-to-face meetings are allowed again, and I would ask that accommodations be made for those who are hearing impaired, whether through live closed-captioning or enhanced volume capabilities.
BUDDY PINDER
If elected I will suggest we have a workshop to discuss how we move forward quickly and efficiently with the issues that the community cares about and how we can change issues that are problems to the community.
If chosen as mayor I sure would make certain that the residents of Islamorada know they are
extremely important to the council, give them much time and respect, provide more
opportunities for them to voice opinions and get involved with the local government. They
know what makes Islamorada special to the families here. We need to listen.
SEAT 5
LARRY ZETTWOCH
For some time, it has concerned me that we have five open seats and an Interim Village Manager. When elected, I will make a motion in the initial meeting to begin proceedings to commence a review of the Village Charter and associated code to update election proceedings for future elections to provide direction regarding the death of candidates; and, in the interest of organizational stability, stagger council elections so that we never again have five council seats up for election concurrently.
Having attended meetings for over a year and observing empty chambers two-thirds of the way through proceedings, I think it will be important to manage the meeting agenda time constraints more effectively. It is important that members of the public who want to participate in their government by attending meetings do not become discouraged and
DAVID WEBB
The agenda for the new council members will be daunting. Project reviews, Village Manager search, continuing fall-out from the pandemic all must be addressed in a timely manner. As someone who has taken the reins of organizations from others in the past, there are some protocols I feel are critical to establish the trust and respect of the citizens of our community. First and foremost, a careful review of actual Village expenditures compared to budget projections along with a look at the last audit will be essential. In addition, any substantiated inappropriate access given to individuals with business coming before council must be examined.
The primary function of the monthly council meeting is to conduct formal and required business and to develop guidance for the Village staff. Public comment is required but offers very little chance for residents to provide timely input. If elected it is my intention to reach out to the community on a regular basis prior to making decisions about significant projects. Townhall type gatherings where people can speak freely and express support for or against proposals before the council as well as referendums where appropriate are needed to provide elected officials and the citizens they represent the ability to form real consensus.
