Emergency Meeting

St. Pete Beach City Manager Under Investigation

By Lisa Leveroni

Without a city manager, St. Pete Beach could look like this a lot more often.

On June 20, yet another emergency meeting was held to further set parameters for an investigation of St. Pete Beach City Manager Alex Rey.

St. Pete Beach City Attorney Andrew Dickman called for this special emergency half-hour meeting, with the commission giving 72 hours notice to the public as is required by law. The meeting was gaveled in by new Mayor Adrian Petrila, who recently called for Rey’s resignation, firing, or suspension. Commissioner Christopher Graus was not present at this meeting.

In many ways, 2023 feels like 2014 all over again. At least it does on St. Pete Beach. The only difference seems to be that the city manager of 2023 is being investigated, while the city manager of 2014 was just summarily fired.

This June 20 meeting began with a briefing by Dickman regarding a problem with funding for public works and day-to-day operations during this 30-day investigation. There had been a stipulation that Rey not authorize “any procurement under $25,000” without permission of the commission. Since the commission only meets every two weeks, this policy would preclude emergency funds for public works, equipment repairs, natural disasters, and day-to-day operations.

“I called you here today to carve out some basic exceptions,” explained Dickman. One would be for emergencies and another for any capital projects that are ongoing... it handcuffs the general smooth operation of the city.”

Commissioner Chris Marone of Pass-a-Grille tried to clarify the restrictions on this 30-day period of limited responsibilities for Rey.

“I am considering we just eliminate the spending restrictions entirely because I just think it handcuffs the general smooth operation of the city,” he said. He added that he regretted making that motion. Vice Mayor Mark Grill agreed: “So, maybe a balance point could be what the city attorney suggested and then maybe they’re (the expenditures) brought to the next commission meeting for a post-spending review.”

“We just don’t want to hamstring the city from performing its regular operations,” Commissioner Ward Friszolowski added.

Public Works Director Mike Clark was present to communicate the various needs of the public works department.

“We literally have hundreds of purchases every week,” and on a day-to-day basis needed for operations, he said. “I am approving things constantly, maybe 20 purchases in an afternoon.” Those purchases include truck tires, stormwater pumps, compressors, fittings, and couplings. On any given day, Clark said, “There is a lot of activity that we need to move along.”

Clark added, “We’re also facing hurricane season … we kind of need some flexibility to continue normal operations.” Not to mention, Grill noted, sewer or storm emergencies.

Marone made an amended motion to remove the restriction entirely from the previous “under $25,000” proposal. The motion also included a post-spending review at the next commission meeting “after the expenditures are made.”

The motion carried 4-0. Then, there was more discussion of hiring a new employee who was supposed to start work that day, June 20.

When the mayor questioned why this employee was not starting his/her job that day, Friszolowski spoke up.

“I need to say something here, mayor. You know, right now, everybody’s on pins and needles here. That’s why this is happening. There was a certain attack on the HR person the other day. We need that person. I know if you’ve been talking to employees ... Employees are on pins and needles right now.

I am not surprised that somebody’s saying, ‘I want verification to hire someone because I don’t want to be let go’,” he said, then continued:

“You know, you said, ‘stop everything’ last Friday, but we need to just move forward here. This is kind of getting to the point where we need to keep this process going. We just heard from Mike (Clark) and I appreciate Mike being here and clarifying that he needs to have the authority to keep things going.”

After the meeting, resident and business owner George Smith told The Gabber Newspaper, “If you halt the city manager, you halt the city business.”

Ask Toffer It All Boils Down to Weeds

By Toffer Ross

This month is an anniversary of sorts for yours truly. In June of 1983, I incorporated my first business involving the installation of plants, trees and turf grass in the yards of complete strangers. Although I fought the idea, I eventually accepted that the presence (and supposed eradication) of the unwanted plants referred to as “weeds” was the most important factor in the success of a newly installed landscape.

Water requirements of new plantings can follow a formula. Successfully managing weeds however, is much more nuanced. The bottom line is that one has to manage them. If they are allowed to grow they will overtake your landscape investment. Which can affect your marriage. Your HOA will cite you. Your neighbors will shun you. The groomer who cuts the fur on your silky wire-haired dachshund will take a significant portion of your discretionary income.

Here’s what I do (and recommend):

Spray something on the new weeds every week from May until about October. From November to April do it every other week. You might use the dreaded chemical we’ve heard so much about — or you can order and spray ‘organic’ blends of herbal concoctions. Vinegar? Sure, but not the stuff you marinate food with. Go find something with an acetic acid concentration of 48% or higher (food quality is only 5%) and follow the instructions. This works by burning the hell out of anything it comes into contact with, including your skin and lungs. Wear a mask and gloves (consider yourself warned.) An upside of this is that your yard will smell like a salad. Pull the big weeds that you missed spraying. If it has a flower or seeds, get it out of there ASAP.

In countries that have banned the use of glyphosate (aka Roundup®), small hand-held flamethrowers are the preferred weedkiller amongst municipal and home landscaper/ gardeners. These are highly effective but must be used judiciously. In periods of dryness or drought, go back to the vinegar. And I must say, that as a non-morning person, a cup of coffee whilst killing the weeds with a flamethrower can really wake me right up.

Here’s what I don’t do (or recommend):

Diesel fuel. Gasoline. “Straight” mix of a chemical. These solutions are beyond bad. Just don’t. Weed Fabric/Barrier. I’m going to go deeper into this in a future article but, for brevity’s sake, let’s just say that they don’t work. Use cardboard instead. I’ll tell you how, and why, soon.

OK, gotta run now. The sandspurs are calling and I must go.

Have a question about gardening and landscaping, or wondering about new landscaping in Gulfport? Send ‘em to Toffer at news@thegabber.com.

July 4 continued from cover ing to City officials, is directly in front of the Casino. There will be a welcome by the Mayor and City Council northwest of the Casino steps immediately following the parade.

Live music is next on the list of activities, with the New Horizons Band of Gulfport scheduled to perform patriotic selections on the Casino deck area at 7 p.m.

The fireworks display that concludes the day’s events will launch from the Williams Pier. The best viewing location is Gulfport Beach.

Several streets will be temporarily closed for the special July 4 events. Beach Boulevard from 28th Avenue to Shore Boulevard and on to 56th Street South will be closed from 5:30-7 p.m. for the parade. Also, Beach Boulevard from 31st Avenue to Shore Boulevard will remain closed following the parade.

Officials will close the Gulfport Casino floating dock in Boca Ciega Bay beginning at 7 a.m. Workers will close the Williams Pier (corner of Shore Boulevard and 54th Street) Monday, July 3, at 8 a.m.

– 36 hours in advance of the fireworks show. Both will reopen simultaneously after the festivities conclude.

All boaters can dock at the Gulfport Marina the day of the event for a fee. Authorities will tow any unauthorized boats parked at the Casino dock to a safe location. The City will grant limited dinghy access, per the marina director, at the Coast Guard Auxiliary Building during the event times only. For more information, contact Denis Frain at 727-893-1071.

The Gulfport Special Events Trolley will run from 4 p.m. until the start of the parade, then immediately after the parade until 10 p.m. Transportation on the trolley is free, as is offsite parking at several locations along the trolley’s pickup route:

• Recreation Beach Complex, 58th Street and Shore Boulevard South

• Ted Phillips Wood Ibis Park, 58th

Street and 28th Avenue South

• Hoyt Field, 56th Street and 24th Avenue South

• Tomlinson Park Complex, 55th Street and 18th Avenue South

• Gulfport City Hall, 53rd Street and 24th Avenue South

• Multipurpose Senior Center, Beach Boulevard and 27th Avenue South

• Gulfport Public Library, Beach Boulevard and 28th Avenue South

• Chase Park/Gulfport History Museum, 54th Street and 28th Avenue South

• Gulfport Municipal Marina, 46th Street and 29th Avenue South

For more information, including a form for those who wish to register for the parade, phone 727-8931118.