Charter Review Committee Set

A former city commissioner, downtown business owner and information technology specialist are part of a group tasked with developing possible changes to the rules that guide the city.

The seven members and three alternates for the Charter Review Committee were selected during a city commission meeting April 2.

Commissioners used a point system ranking the 36 applicants. The top seven were picked and the next two would be alternates. However, commissioners tied for alternate members Beverly Gatewood and Ginny Nelson, so they increased alternates to three members.

Commissioners said they wanted a small and diverse group of business owners, college students and graduates of the city’s citizen academy.

The group meets monthly until January 2014. The meetings are tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. the last Tuesday each month.

Possible changes the group comes up with would be added to the election ballot to be voted on by Largo residents in November 2014.

Changes as part of the last charter review maintain that the city must select a group to review the document every seven years. A 15-member group reviewed the charter for the first time in 30 years during the city’s centennial in 2005.

The committee includes:

Gay Gentry, a 45-year resident and former city commissioner.

Tanya Pistillo, a 37-year resident and downtown business owner of the Wandering Star Gallery.

John Boscarino, a 26-year resident, who works as an information technology senior manager at the county’s tax collector office and is a four-year member of the Public Works and Environmental Services advisory board.

Patricia Edmond, 10-year resident, who is a graduate of Citizen’s Academy and Citizen’s Police Academy.

Marie Etheridge, a nine-year resident and 2012 Citizen Academy graduate.

Jaksa Petrovic, a 10-year resident and 2012 Citizen Academy graduate.

Sue Porter, a 38-year resident who has served on various city committees since 1975 including graduating from Citizen’s Academy and serving as a police volunteer.

Alternate members:

Beverly Gatewood, a 19-year resident and graduate of Citizen Academy and former member of the city’s Community Development Advisory Board.

Ginny Nelson, a six-year resident and former member of the city’s recycling committee.

Jose Valdes, a 16-year resident and trustee on the Police and Firefighters Pension Board.

Timeline:

• March - establish charter review committee
• January 2014 - possible recommendations for charter changes
• August 2014 - possible ordinance must be complete for ballot
• November 2014 - possible charter changes voted on by Largo residents

Related coverage:

• Leaders Look for Charter Review Committee Applicants
• City Looks to Review Charter

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