What can the Bradenton Beach mayor accomplish?
In a 3-1 vote May 5, the Bradenton Beach City Commission approved the first public reading of an ordinance defining the mayoral powers in the city.
Mayor Bill Shearon was the no vote.
Vice Mayor Ed Straight was absent from the meeting.
“Before I had one hand tied behind my back. Now I have two hands tied,” Shearon said. “So what am I supposed to do?”
The May 5 meeting was a continuation of past discussions about the mayor’s powers that began earlier this spring when commissioner Ralph Cole, elected in November 2015, sought clarity on the city’s charter.
Bradenton Beach has a weak mayor form of government, with the mayor serving as a voting member of the commission. The mayor has some administrative oversight of the city but does not have veto power over the commission.
Anna Maria and Holmes Beach have strong mayor governments. The mayors don’t get a vote but have veto powers and serve as administrators.
The form of government can only be changed by the vote of the electorate — a change in the city charter. Bradenton Beach’s charter was amended and adopted in 2015. Every five years the city conducts a review of the charter.
During the 2015 study, Bradenton Beach’s charter review committee considered changing the city’s system to strong mayor but then opted against such a recommendation.
Before the May 5 vote, residents Jim Hassett and Priscilla Von Ahnen said the commission is taking away the mayor’s power.
“Who’s going to run this city? Who’s going to be responsible?” Hassett asked. “Someone has to lead. Someone has to be responsible.”
Van Ahnen said, “ The person we vote for should be in charge. Now the department heads are going to be run without oversight.”
The mayor’s responsibilities in a weak role include being a liaison between the city’s department heads and the city commission. If the mayor sees a problem that can’t be resolved between the departments, he then can bring it to the commission. The commission acts as a unified body on city matters and decides on a course of action.
“It’s up to everyone to do as they see fit,” Shearon said.
The final public hearing and vote on the ordinance will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 19, at Bradenton Beach City Hall, 107 Gulf Drive N.
Mayoral executive powers
• Chairs all city commission meetings.
• Appoints commissioners as department liaisons.
• Calls for special commission sessions.
• Creates city boards, panels or committees as needed.
Mayoral administrative powers
• Ensures the city operates as mandated by commission.
• Maintains compliance with emergency preparedness and emergency management programs.
• Appoints emergency police as needed.
• Prepares and submits to the commission and public a state of the city report.
• Makes recommendations to the commission on personal issues.
• Prepares an annual budget for commission review.
— Tal Reeve