McCollum Appears More Set As Belleair Beach City Managerby Leo CoughlinBELLEAIR BEACH - Nancy McCollum is on track to become city manager in a more definite way although the word "acting" may be appended to her title for a while. She and Mayor Lynn Rives and Paul Marino, the city attorney, are negotiating a contract that will establish her salary, promise her that she can return to her city clerk duties if an opinion from the Attorney General, not due for many months, should be adverse, and allow her to remain credentialed as a city clerk. She is in the process of becoming a "certified master clerk" and does not want to lose this important designation for career purposes. At a worksession Monday night the City Council reviewed employee salaries, discussed strategic planning and heard the latest update on plans for the new city hall in a meeting that lasted more than two hours. Of most interest to residents, perhaps, is the status of the new city hall which is having a record gestation and birth period, now at least five years along. At the last update, it was reported that the site of the building itself would be a little east of the original location of the plan. But it turns out that the contractor who did the planning missed the fact that Verizon has an easement on that location. Now the plan is to confer with Verizon to see if that problem can be overcome. The longest time was spent on strategic planning which reviewed the subjects that were prioritized in the "visioning session" that was held last year. Accomplished, the council decided was a special master to deal with code violations. A code enforcement officer, Jack Ouimette, is in place and will give a report next month. The Board of Adjustment, it was decided, will be left as is because it incorporates important resident involvement and furthermore its meetings will be filmed and broadcast on the city TV channel (15). As to increased police presence it was agreed that the switch over to the Sheriff's Office is having a positive effect. Another goal - to lower the millage rate has been accomplished. The five-year master plan work has already begun, increased communication with residents is a reality with streaming video now available on the city web site, improving city parks has been done and the comprehensive plan, including setting parameters for rebuilding in case of a severe storm. The safety devices for the crosswalks are in place, beach maintenance is going to be done by a contractor and public works will continue its weekly cleanups. There was no strong interest indicated in acquiring the Belleair Beach Motel. On salaries for employees, further study will be done, particularly on defining exactly how "merit" raises would be determined. It was agreed to keep in place cost of living increases.
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