BELLEAIR BEACH -- The Belleair Beach City Council filled vacancies on three city boards at its meeting Tuesday night, with Councilmember Donna Durante dominating in the choices for membership on the committees.
Of 11 vacancies to be filled, Durante alertly grabbed the floor on seven of them and got her choice nominated and voted on.
No significant business came before the council as it embarked on the early stages of the new form of government that has been instituted in Belleair Beach.
With City Manager Reid Silverboard at the helm, the new lineup of the City Council puts the mayor, Rudy Davis, in the role of presiding officer, a stark departure from the old system where the mayor was the administrative officer of the city but did not vote.
The former mayor, Mike Kelly, was named to the Board of Adjustment the board on which he had served for years prior to becoming mayor in 2001.
Kelly was one of two out of four candidates named to that board and his approval came over the objections of two council members -- Lynn Rives and Jeff Coulson.
Rives pointed out that Kelly, who was nominated by Durante, was not a good choice because so much resentment had built up during his term of office as mayor. Coulson echoed this. Nevertheless, Kelly was voted on the board by a 5-2 margin.
Also chosen for the board was Michael Notaro, who squeaked through on a 4-3 vote. Members Stan Sofer, Rives, Coulson and Davis supported him.
On the Planning Board action, Durante nominated three of the five members chosen.
Among them was a new face, Richard Conrath, who was not listed on the list of seven names recommended by the city staff.
The others nominated by Durante and winning seats were Dan Baitcher and Skip Chittenden. The other two seats were taken by Kevin Doyle and Bill Lusk.
Durante nominated three of the four members chosen for the Park Board. They were Kathleen Mortensen, Debra Riley and Wanda Schwerer. The other choice was Sandee Wisniowksi.
The council made a change in the procedure Board of Adjustment's appeal process.
Under the change, the Board of Adjustment will hear appeals from administrative decisions. If the aggrieved party is not upheld by the board, that person can then take an appeal to the Circuit Court.
The council meeting was delayed one day from its originally scheduled Monday meeting to accommodate Paul Marino, the city attorney, who was returning from a honeymoon.
Tina Skaggs, who occupied a controverial position under the administration of Kelly, has resigned.