An offer to settle a yearlong lawsuit against Bradenton Beach over alleged missteps in the negotiations for the Anna Maria Oyster Bar lease will soon be at the dais.
For $15,000 in attorney fees, Bazzy Marine Corp., d/b/a Bradenton Beach Marina and Allan and Mike Bazzy, has agreed to drop a suit that alleged city officials violated Florida’s Government-in-the-Sunshine Law.
City commissioners are expected to consider the settlement agreement when they meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, at city hall, 107 Gulf Drive N.
Mayor Bill Shearon told The Islander he would not comment on the offer unless the commission votes to accept it.
But Mike Bazzy was pleased with the outcome. “I’m happy with the settlement. I’m happy with the way I think the suit has moved the mooring field issues to the forefront,” Mike Bazzy said, referring to the area south of the Historic Bridge Street Pier, where people live aboard boats, some inoperable and in poor condition.
The Bazzy suit was filed in November 2015.
It sought to void the AMOB lease, claiming the city held illegal meetings to add two city-owned upland buildings into the lease for the restaurant.
“Our goal with the lawsuit was to get the mooring field issues shored up — to serve the boaters,” Michael Bazzy said, adding he was among four qualified bidders for the restaurant — and the only bidder for the two upland buildings.
In December 2015, AMOB subleased one building to two boutiques, A Room with a Hue and Tide and Moon Jewelry, and the second unit to Paradise Boat Tours.
With the proposed settlement agreement, the city admits no wrongdoing.
The suit also included AMOB and Paradise Boat Tours as defendants, but the proposed settlement, signed by the Bazzys Sept. 20, does not include these litigants.
Bazzy said Oct. 3 it was not his intention to continue the suit against the others..