Two Incumbents in Belleair Shore Will Seek Re-Election; One Seat Openby Leo Coughlin BELLEAIR BLUFFS - There will be an open seat on the Belleair Shore Town Commission when the March election rolls around with two other seats being contested as incumbents will seek re-election. Carl Hilton has announced that he will not be a candidate for re-election because he expects to move away from Belleair Shore. Seeking re-election will be Ray Piscatelli and Bob Schmidt, a veteran on the commission. At the commission meeting October 17, the ordinance creating the commission itself as the local planning agency was unanimously passed and the town's comprehensive plan, in conjunction with the planning scheme, was prepared for transmittal to the state Department of Community Affairs. While Belleair Shore, possibly the smallest incorporated municipality in the state, is totally residential, has no public areas, no streets or public buildings, it nevertheless has to submit a comprehensive plan under state law. There is only one property use in the town - single family residential. Also agreed on was the compact with neighboring cities that are part of the Pinellas Suncoast Fire and Rescue District to establish an emergency operations center. An exact location has not yet been selected, but it will be on the mainland. St. Jerome's Church has been mentioned as a possibility. The one thing that comes to mind when emergency operations is mentioned is a hurricane. But this area has been miraculously spared a direct hit from a hurricane for going on 86 years, although hurricane fear is what the crowing is about every year. More likely is parts of the area being hit with a tornado. There have been many of them over the years, but none in recent times that has done any extensive damage. The commission also reviewed the situation regarding short term rentals. That problem seems to have been nearly abated with one problem spot apparently completely solved and another, which involves a property owner who is in the process of selling three homes. One has been sold, the other is in the process of being sold and the third property has not been rented. No action will be taken so long as it is not advertised for a short term rental, the commission decided. It appears Belleair Shore is town of library users. The town pays $2,200 to Largo on behalf of all citizens who want a Largo card. There are 49 of them in Belleair Shore which represents a high proportion of the population.
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