Sometimes, the big news at a meeting comes at the end.
That was the case at the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce board meeting Jan. 21, when chair Larry Chatt announced that chamber president Mary Ann Brockman plans to retire after 21 years.
Brockman said she had been considering retirement for the past several months.
“I’ve been with the chamber 35 years, and 21 as president. I finally decided it’s time to go and enjoy my children and grandchildren,” she said.
Chatt said a search committee will be formed to find a successor.
“I’ll stay on as long as the board wants me to,” Brockman said. There also will be time to train her replacement, Brockman added.
“There’s no time schedule in place, but the board will put a committee together and begin searching right away,” she said.
Chatt said in a Jan. 22 press release that Brockman’s contributions to the chamber “are immeasurable, and we will be forever grateful for the leadership she has provided in the last 30-plus years.”
He said Brockman has taken a lead role in developing the role of the chamber in the community and in helping businesses develop into viable entities.
“With Mary Ann’s direction, the chamber has grown exponentially the past 21 years. She has always viewed the Anna Maria Island chamber as her passion and this is likely a huge reason for the scale of her contributions to our community.”
Brockman has been a “gift to this community and has helped form lofty expectations for her successor,” he added.
Chatt said there is no rush to find a successor and he expects the transition period will be about six months.
“I do find solitude that I know Mary Ann will always be available for guidance, and our membership, chamber staff and board of directors will further ensure a successful transition,” he said in the release.
In other chamber news, Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson advised members that infrastructure projects involving the storm drainage system for Holmes Beach will begin in May.
He also noted the city is considering a moratorium on construction or renovation of dwellings with four or more bedrooms in the residential districts. The moratorium would be in effect for nine months, while the city examines the state of the vacation rental industry.
He said one of the city’s concerns is a property owner using a residential dwelling as a rental without notifying the city.
Johnson said he will attend as many board meetings as possible to keep the chamber advised of what’s happening in Holmes Beach.
“I think it’s critical that we keep our lines of communication open and keep you aware of what we are doing in Holmes Beach,” Johnson told the board.